Sustainable cement-based mortar with shredded material recycled from end-of-life wind turbine blades
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The growing demand for sustainable construction materials has driven interest in reusing industrial waste. This study explores the feasibility of incorporating shredded composite (SC) recycled from end-of-life (EoL) wind turbine blades (WTBs) into a cement-based mortar. Two SC fractions were tested: 0-2 mm as a partial cement replacement (10%, 15%, 20% by volume) and 0-32 mm as a partial aggregate replacement (20%, 30%, 40% by volume). Mechanical testing, digital image correlation (DIC), and microstructural analysis were used to assess performance. The 0-32 mm SC fraction significantly enhanced mortar properties when used as aggregate replacement, reducing porosity by up to 23.22%, increasing flexural strength by 36.51%, and improving the toughness index by 248.11%. In contrast, the 0-2 mm SC fraction, used as a cement substitute, led to a 27.55% increase in porosity, a 6.60% reduction in density, a 44.64% decrease in toughness, and a 45.12% decrease in compressive strength, indicating the need for further optimization of this approach. These findings demonstrate the potential of SC from EoL WTBs as a sustainable additive in cementitious composites, particularly when used as aggregate replacement. The study supports circular economy practices by reducing construction waste and valorising materials from decommissioned renewable infrastructure.
Source: Scientific Reports
Authors: Magdalena Rucka, Marzena Kurpińska
Institution: Gdańsk University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
Funder: Politechnika Gdańska
Award: G8478917351
OpenAlex ID: W4413368005