KUST Students Develop Sustainable Concrete Mixes with Reduced Cement Usage

In a pioneering study, Aryan and Sonya from the Civil Engineering department have devised innovative concrete mixtures that promise both strength and sustainability. Their research, aimed at tackling the environmental impact of concrete production, focuses on reducing cement usage while maintaining performance.

Concrete, the second most consumed material globally, contributes significantly to CO2 emissions through cement production. Aryan and Sonya’s project introduces a method that optimizes aggregate gradation to decrease cement content in various concrete mixes. By utilizing standard sieve analysis and assessing workability through established methods, they achieved impressive results.

Their findings revealed higher compressive strengths in the developed mixes, even with reduced cement content, compared to traditional reference mixes. Remarkably, the cost per unit of strength in their sustainable mixes was significantly lower, marking a substantial advancement in cost-efficiency.

This research represents a crucial step towards sustainable construction practices, offering a blueprint for reducing the environmental footprint of concrete production. With their success, Aryan and Sonya pave the way for further innovations in cement reduction and sustainable construction methods.