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This research presents a novel data-driven framework for predicting the mechanical properties of waste glass aggregate concrete using six advanced metaheuristic optimization algorithms: Bat Algorithm (Bat), Cuckoo Search Algorithm (Cuckoo), Elephant Herding Optimization (Elephant), Firefly Algorithm (Firefly), Rhinoceros Optimization Algorithm (Rhino), and Gray Wolf Optimizer (Wolf). The study evaluates these models based on their ability to predict compressive strength (Fc), tensile strength (Ft), density, and slump using key statistical performance indicators such as SSE, MAE, MSE, RMSE, accuracy, R 2 , and KGE. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using Hoffman and Gardener’s method as well as the SHAP technique to determine the most influential parameter in the prediction process. Results indicate that the Firefly and Wolf algorithms exhibited the highest prediction accuracy across all four properties, with Wolf emerging as the overall best-performing model due to its superior generalization ability, lower error rates, and high correlation with experimental results. Among the input parameters, the water-to-binder ratio was identified as the most influential factor affecting the mechanical properties of waste glass aggregate concrete, as demonstrated by both sensitivity analysis methods. This highlights the critical role of optimal water content in achieving desirable strength and workability in sustainable concrete mixtures. The study’s novelty lies in the comparative assessment of multiple optimization algorithms applied to waste-based concrete, an approach that has not been extensively explored in previous research. Additionally, the integration of SHAP analysis for feature importance ranking provides an interpretable machine learning approach to concrete mix design, which enhances decision-making for engineers and researchers. The practical implications of this research extend to sustainable machine learning-based concrete design, where AI-driven optimization can help reduce the reliance on conventional trial-and-error methods. By utilizing waste glass aggregates, the study supports circular economy initiatives in construction, reducing environmental impact while maintaining structural performance. The proposed models can be implemented in real-world scenarios to optimize mix designs for large-scale applications, leading to cost-effective and eco-friendly construction materials. This research advances the field of smart construction by demonstrating the effectiveness of machine learning in sustainable material engineering, paving the way for future AI-assisted innovations in the industry.

To enhance the sustainability and high-temperature resistance of tunnel lining materials, this study prepared an ultra-high-performance shotcrete (UHPS) incorporating polypropylene fibres (PPF) and used waste glass aggregate as a substitute raw material. The effects of PPF content (0–0.4%) and high-temperature exposure (20–800 °C) on the residual mechanical properties, flexural toughness, and self-sensing capability of UHPS were systematically investigated. At 20 °C, adding PPF reduces strengths; relative to 0% PPF, 0.4% PPF lowers compressive, splitting-tensile, and flexural strengths by 13.28%, 23.04%, and 29.28%, respectively. In addition, PPF reduces flexural toughness indices and self-sensing capability at room temperature, with more pronounced reductions at higher fibre dosages. However, under elevated temperatures, PPF significantly suppresses the risk of spalling and enhances the residual mechanical properties of UHPS, with the optimal effect observed at 0.3% PPF. As the temperature increases, the mechanical strength of UHPS first increases and then decreases, while flexural toughness continuously deteriorates. Moreover, high temperatures weaken both pressure-sensitive and bending-sensitive properties, with self-sensing capability showing a marked decline above 400 °C. Microscopic analysis indicates that the decomposition of hydration products, fibre oxidation, and crack propagation are the main mechanisms underlying performance degradation at high temperatures.

This paper aims to investigate the possibility of using waste glass of different colours as a complete substitute for quartz sand in autoclaved silica–lime samples. On the one hand, this increases the possibility of recycling waste glass; on the other hand, it allows obtaining autoclaved materials with better properties. In this research, reference samples with quartz sand (R) and white (WG), brown (BG), and green (GG) waste container glass were made. Parameters such as compressive strength, bulk density, and water absorption were examined on all samples. The samples were examined using a scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive spectroscopy detector (SEM/EDS) and subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The WG samples showed 187% higher compressive strength, BG by 159%, and GG by 134% compared to sample R. In comparison to the reference sample, volumetric density was 16.8% lower for sample WG, 13.2% lower for BG, and 7.1% lower for GG. Water absorption increased as bulk density decreased. The WG sample achieved the highest water absorption value, 15.84%. An X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of calcite, portlandite, and tobermorite phases. Depending on the silica aggregate used, there were differences in phase composition linked to compressive strength. Hydrated calcium silicates with varying crystallisation degrees were visible in the microstructure image.

The primary aim of this article is to focus on the alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in mortar specimens containing coloured waste glass used as an aggregate. Mortar expansion was measured using the ASTM C 1260 accelerated test procedure until the specimens disintegrated. Special attention was paid to the microscopic examination of the damaged mortar. Various methods were used for this purpose, including optical microscopy in reflected and transmitted light with one and two crossed polarizers. The specimens were also subjected to the scanning electron microscopy observations with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The data obtained from these techniques provided information on the mechanism of glass-containing mortar degradation due to ASR and also allowed the comparison of different microscopic techniques in terms of the information they can provide on ASR occurrence.

The work presented in this article attempts to evaluate the effect of partial and full substitution of silica sand by fine recycled waste glass (RG) in M45 engineered cementitious composites. Two groups with a total of eight mixtures were prepared with 2% or without untreated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers. Each group included four mixtures with RG substitution ratios of 0, 30, 60, and 100%. The compressive strength and flexural strength of all mixtures were tested at ages of 7, 28, and 90 days. The test results showed that the influence of RG was different for plain specimens from those with PVA fibers. For plain specimens, the incorporation of RG mostly increased the compressive and flexural strength at mature ages of 28 and 90 days, while this positive effect was not the trend at 7 days of age. On the other hand, the incorporation of RG had in most cases a negative impact on the compressive and flexural strength of specimens reinforced with short untreated PVA fibers.

Contemporary construction practices increasingly recognize the utilization of waste materials as a methodological imperative for mitigating waste accumulation and advancing environmental remediation. This article explores the incorporation of waste glass granules as a partial substitute for coarse aggregates in conventional concrete, maintaining an equivalent coarse aggregate size range (9.5–12.5 mm) while varying the replacement ratios, specifically 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 50%. The study investigates the impact of this substitution on key concrete properties, including compressive strength, flexural strength, density, water absorption, and permeability. The findings reveal that the utilization of waste glass granules, possessing a higher density compared to the original coarse aggregate, leads to an increase in the overall concrete density. Furthermore, the incorporation of glass granules enhances concrete impermeability and reduces water absorption. However, it is observed that the introduction of waste glass granules has an adverse effect on both compressive and flexural strengths of the concrete, with the magnitude of this effect escalating with higher replacement rates. The study identifies that the optimal replacement rate for waste glass granules, with minimal impact on concrete strength, stands at 15%.

To aid in the creation of sustainable structures, scientists have utilized waste materials found in the environment to serve as alternatives for traditional resources in the construction sector. They have undertaken extensive investigations pertaining to this matter. In this particular study, tempered glass as waste glass coarse aggregate (WGCA) was substituted for natural coarse aggregate (NCA) at varying proportions of 15%, 30%, and 45% in the formulation of eco-friendly self-compacting concrete (SCC), combined with hooked-end steel fibers (SFs) at various volumes. The study assessed concrete’s flowability, permeability, compressive strength, and fracture parameters at 28 and 56 days. A total of 240 edge-notched disc bending samples (ENDB) and 60 cubic samples (150 × 150 mm) were tested to assess fracture resilience and compressive strength, respectively. The results showed that increasing SF and WGCA content reduced slump flow diameter and blockage ratio, particularly at higher levels. The solidified characteristics of all specimens incorporating SF and WGCA displayed heightened attributes when contrasted with the reference sample. Among the entire array of specimens, WG15SF0.5 and WG30SF0.5 exhibited the most superior performance, demonstrating an average percentage elevation of 20.29 and 27.63 in both compressive strength and fracture toughness assessments across the different curing periods. SF had the most significant impact on post-cracking behavior by enhancing load-bearing capacity through a bridging fiber mechanism. Through a comparison of the influence of SFs and WGCA on the fracture toughness of pure mode III, it was observed that the inclusion of SF in samples with a 30% replacement of WGCA resulted in an average increase of approximately 15.48% and 11.1% in this mode at the ages of 28 and 56 days, respectively, compared to the control sample.

In this study, the experimental and numerical effects of using waste glass as aggregates of asphalt pavement are evaluated. The main reason for using this waste material as aggregates of hot mix asphalt (HMA) is to alleviate an environmental problem associated with asphalt pavements called urban heat islands. This phenomenon can increase the temperature in urban areas compared to their suburbs. Regarding the experimental part, two different HMA mixtures containing 100% limestone aggregates (HMAL) and 100% glass aggregates (HMAG) are made in this study. An experimental setup is used to simulate the solar radiations on top of HMA specimens. As a result, thermal parameters, including thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat capacity, are measured and calculated using the heat transfer equations and the heat transfer test. These results are then used to develop finite element models for two different pavement structures with different asphalt concrete layers (one of them with HMAL and the other with HMAG). Furthermore, the air temperature data, extracted by TRNSYS software for Bechar city in Algeria, are used for modeling. The surface temperature, first and second temperatures in the asphalt pavement are obtained. The results revealed that using this waste aggregate increased the surface temperature during the day, which can make it susceptible to rutting. However, it reduced the surface temperature at night. More importantly, the HMAL absorbs 34% and released 47% more heat than HMAG during days and nights. Hence, the HMAG performance can mitigate the UHI effects. Moreover, using this waste material as aggregates in HMA can introduce a recycling method with low costs.

This study presents a rigorous experimental and numerical investigation of the synergistic effect of metakaolin (MK) and waste glass (WG) on the structural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams without stirrups. A two-phase methodology was adopted: (i) optimization of MK and WG replacement levels through concrete-equivalent mortar mixtures and (ii) evaluation of the fresh and hardened properties of concrete, including compressive and tensile strengths, elastic modulus, sorptivity, and beam shear capacity. Five beam groups incorporating up to 30% MK, 15% WG, and 1% steel fiber were tested under four-point bending. The results demonstrated that MK enhanced compressive strength (up to 22%), WG improved workability but reduced ductility, and the combined system achieved a 13% increase in shear strength relative to the control. Steel fibers further restored ductility, increasing the ductility index from 1.338 for WG-only beams to 2.489. Finite Element Modeling (FEM) using ABAQUS with the Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model reproduced experimental (EXP) load–deflection responses, peak loads, and crack evolution with high fidelity. This confirmed the predictive capability of the numerical framework. By integrating material-level optimization, structural-scale testing, and validated FEM simulations, this study provides robust evidence that MK–WG concrete, especially when fiber-reinforced, delivers mechanical, durability, and structural performance improvements. These findings establish a reliable pathway for incorporating sustainable cementitious blends into design-oriented applications, with direct implications for the advancement of performance-based structural codes.

Waste glass is an endless issue for the majority of the countries in the world with a linear economy of usage of materials. Demolition waste is counted as part of total construction and demolition waste (CDW). Even today, there are some statistical problems with the quantification of demolition waste and dividing it from total CDW, since most countries do not provide such a division of waste types. The current review shows possible ways of utilizing waste glass in some useful products in the construction industry. It is elaborated using PRISMA@ methodology with bibliometric and qualitative methods to provide a systematical overview of the publications in the period from 2000 to 2023. The bibliometric search was handled with the application RStudio© using sources in the biggest database, Scopus. Most of the published research items are mainly focused on using waste glass in concrete applications. However, there are seven possible areas of waste glass application in the construction industry: concrete products, gypsum–cement composites, asphalt or concrete pavement, geopolymer mortars, foamed glass ceramics, glass ceramics, and soil foundation strengthening/stabilization. In its turn, the circular economy should be applied since it provides a prolonged turnaround of materials throughout their life cycle.