Work

Beneficiating ceramic waste in sustainable concrete pavement: multi-objective optimization using artificial neural networks

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Mitigating natural resource depletion and ensuring that byproducts and wastes are reused effectively has become paramount for fostering sustainable development. Accordingly, this study explores using low-cost, readily available, and ecologically benign ceramic wastes to replace cement and fine/coarse aggregates in developing new types of mortar/concrete as pavement. The first phase of this work examines the durability, mechanical strength, and long-term performance of mortar/concrete that uses beneficiated ceramic waste as a secondary cementitious material and crushed ceramic waste as fine/coarse aggregates. To characterize the morphology, structure, and thermal properties of the proposed mixtures, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were deployed. In the second phase, artificial neural networks (ANN) coupled with a Bayesian regularization training algorithm were tailored to estimate waste ceramic-based concrete’s compressive strength and CO 2 emissions. Sensitivity and regression analyses were developed to examine each parameter’s influence on the compressive strength and CO 2 emissions and facilitate the design of beneficiated ceramic-based concrete. Subsequently, a multi-objective optimization study was developed to identify the values of input predictor variables that maximize the predicted compressive strength and minimize CO 2 emissions. The findings show that using ceramic waste as a binder and source of fine/coarse aggregates vastly improved the mechanical strength performance of the mortar/concrete and reduced drying shrinkage and porosity. Moreover, given the favorable interactions between fine aggregates and ceramic waste, porosity decreased and microstructure enhanced.

Source: Discover Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.1007/s42452-025-07381-8

Authors: Iman Faridmehr, Ghasan Fahim Huseien

Institutions: Girne American University, National University of Singapore, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion

Language: English

Topic: Recycled Aggregate Concrete Performance

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4415659717