Effect of Marble Waste Powder as Cement Replacement on The Concrete Mixes

Abstract

Leaving the waste materials to the environment directly can cause environmental problem. Waste reuse was therefore emphasized. Waste can be used to produce new products or can be used as additives so that natural resources are used more efficiently and protect the environment from waste deposits. The marble stone industry generates both solid waste and stone slurry which will adversely affect the environment. This study focuses on the use of local marble powder waste in concrete and enhance the concrete compressive strength more economically, by  partial replacement of the weight of cement by marble powder with 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% of cement weight.The concrete mixture was designed at a compression strength of 50MPa after 28 days. The water/cement ratio (0.48) remained constant. Concrete samples (cubes) were tested for compressive strength after 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after proper curing. Fineness of hydraulic, Normal consistency and initial and final setting time of cement by marble powder of 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% of cement weight were tested.The study which was carried out under controlled laboratory condition indicates that high level of marble powder in the concretes decrease the  early and later ages strength development of marble powder significantly. Only concrete with 2.5 % marble powder which gives compressive strength very close to the 0% marble powder concrete. The use of this type of marble powder resulting from the process of cutting marble as partial replacement of cement in concrete will not benefit cement industrial unless find another source of good marble waste powder.