An Innovative Fire-Resistant Lightweight Concrete Infill Wall Reinforced with Waste Glass

An Innovative Fire-Resistant Lightweight Concrete Infill Wall Reinforced with Waste Glass

27 February 2024 | Ali Ghamari, Aleksandra Powezka, Violetta K. Kytinou, Ali Amini
This paper presents an innovative fire-resistant lightweight concrete infill wall reinforced with waste glass. The wall is designed to be lightweight, with a robust structure that performs well under both out-of-plane loading and high temperatures. The wall is constructed using lightweight concrete mixed with waste glass powder, which enhances its fire resistance and contributes to environmental sustainability by utilizing waste materials. The study experimentally and parametrically evaluates the wall's performance. Results show that the optimal glass powder volume is 6% for specimens under varying temperature conditions. At temperatures up to 600°C, specimens with 0% and 8% glass powder experienced maximum and minimum weight loss, respectively. At 200°C, glass powder concentrations below 4% reduced compressive strength, while concentrations between 4% and 8% increased it. The wall's compressive strength was also influenced by temperature, with higher temperatures generally reducing strength, but glass powder improved it at higher temperatures. The wall was tested under out-of-plane loading after exposure to 900°C. The results showed that the wall maintained good structural integrity, with a high out-of-plane strength of 18.81 kN and a weight-to-strength ratio of approximately 11.17 times its weight perpendicular to the plane. This indicates that the wall remains structurally sound even under high temperatures. The wall was also tested under direct fire conditions, showing that the waste glass powder helped reduce heat transfer. The temperature at the back of the block was significantly lower than at the front, indicating effective heat insulation. The wall's performance under fire conditions was further validated by its ability to withstand high temperatures without significant structural damage. The study concludes that the proposed wall is an effective solution for fire-resistant infill walls, offering improved performance under high temperatures and contributing to environmental sustainability through the use of waste glass. The wall's lightweight nature and non-load-bearing design make it suitable for use in seismic events, where it can provide structural stability without adding significant weight. The results also highlight the importance of optimizing the glass powder content to achieve the best balance between fire resistance and structural performance.This paper presents an innovative fire-resistant lightweight concrete infill wall reinforced with waste glass. The wall is designed to be lightweight, with a robust structure that performs well under both out-of-plane loading and high temperatures. The wall is constructed using lightweight concrete mixed with waste glass powder, which enhances its fire resistance and contributes to environmental sustainability by utilizing waste materials. The study experimentally and parametrically evaluates the wall's performance. Results show that the optimal glass powder volume is 6% for specimens under varying temperature conditions. At temperatures up to 600°C, specimens with 0% and 8% glass powder experienced maximum and minimum weight loss, respectively. At 200°C, glass powder concentrations below 4% reduced compressive strength, while concentrations between 4% and 8% increased it. The wall's compressive strength was also influenced by temperature, with higher temperatures generally reducing strength, but glass powder improved it at higher temperatures. The wall was tested under out-of-plane loading after exposure to 900°C. The results showed that the wall maintained good structural integrity, with a high out-of-plane strength of 18.81 kN and a weight-to-strength ratio of approximately 11.17 times its weight perpendicular to the plane. This indicates that the wall remains structurally sound even under high temperatures. The wall was also tested under direct fire conditions, showing that the waste glass powder helped reduce heat transfer. The temperature at the back of the block was significantly lower than at the front, indicating effective heat insulation. The wall's performance under fire conditions was further validated by its ability to withstand high temperatures without significant structural damage. The study concludes that the proposed wall is an effective solution for fire-resistant infill walls, offering improved performance under high temperatures and contributing to environmental sustainability through the use of waste glass. The wall's lightweight nature and non-load-bearing design make it suitable for use in seismic events, where it can provide structural stability without adding significant weight. The results also highlight the importance of optimizing the glass powder content to achieve the best balance between fire resistance and structural performance.
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