SUSTAINABLE CONCRETE USING INDUSTRIAL WASTE MATERIALS: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Abstract

The growing environmental burden of Portland cement production has intensified the need for sustainable alternatives in concrete technology. This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating industrial waste materials namely fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), and silica fume as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to simultaneously enhance sustainability and maintain structural performance. A data-driven analytical framework was adopted to evaluate the relationships between mix design parameters, mechanical properties, and environmental indicators using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression modeling. In addition, a multi-objective evaluation approach was implemented to identify optimal mixtures under predefined strength constraints. The results demonstrate that compressive strength and environmental performance are strongly influenced by water–binder ratio, binder content, curing age, and SCM composition. While the water–binder ratio remains the dominant predictor of strength, higher SCM replacement levels are consistently associated with significant reductions in embodied carbon and embodied energy. Importantly, the Pareto-based analysis reveals that high mechanical performance and low environmental impact are not mutually exclusive. Several mixtures achieved substantial carbon reductions while meeting structural strength requirements, challenging the prevailing assumption that sustainability necessarily compromises performance. This study emphasizes that sustainable concrete should be treated as an optimized material system rather than a prescriptive substitution exercise. By integrating mechanical and environmental objectives within a unified statistical framework, this research provides a rational basis for performance-based low-carbon concrete design. The findings support the transition toward data-driven material selection strategies that align structural reliability with climate mitigation goals.