EFFECT OF WASTE PUMICE AGGREGATE ON DENSITY, WORKABILITY, AND COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable and lightweight construction materials has led to growing interest in the utilization of industrial waste in concrete production. This study investigates the effect of waste pumice aggregate on the density, workability, and compressive strength of concrete. Waste pumice obtained from the apparel industry was used as a partial and full replacement for natural coarse aggregate at replacement levels of 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%, while maintaining a constant water–cement ratio. The workability of fresh concrete was evaluated using slump tests, whereas hardened concrete was assessed in terms of dry density, self-weight, and compressive strength at curing ages of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The results indicate that increasing the waste pumice content leads to a progressive reduction in workability and compressive strength due to the porous structure and high water absorption capacity of pumice aggregate. However, a substantial reduction in concrete density and self-weight was achieved, confirming the effectiveness of waste pumice in producing lightweight concrete. Concrete mixes with low to moderate pumice replacement levels demonstrated acceptable strength performance suitable for lightweight and non-load bearing applications. The findings highlight the potential of waste pumice aggregate as an environmentally friendly alternative to natural coarse aggregate, contributing to sustainable construction and effective waste management.