College - Author 1

College of Architecture and Environmental Design

Department - Author 1

Construction Management Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Construction Management

Date

6-2024

Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Michael Brennan, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department

Abstract/Summary

Tempered glass poses issues for traditional glass recyclers, as the melting temperature is different from standard glass due to the tempering process that the glass is subjected to. This makes tempered glass more difficult to recycle and opens this material up as a potential for other methods of environmentally beneficial disposal. Tempered glass breaks into relatively consistent pieces that are more rectangular and granular than standard glass. Granular size is dependent on the thickness of the glass used and forms a relatively cubic shape. This size is similar to some of the material found in standard coarse aggregate for concrete mixes, providing an opportunity for tempered glass to be used in its place. This presents a method of environmentally friendly disposal for tempered glass, as well as reducing the amount of virgin material needed for concrete. A testing protocol was developed that allowed for the comparison of concrete mixes utilizing different quantities of tempered glass compared to a control mix. Compressive testing was performed to determine the effect of the glass on the compressive strength. The results showed that the glass had minimal impact to the ultimate strength, demonstrating that the use of tempered glass is indeed feasible.

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