Influence of Pumice on the Mechanical Performance, Microstructural Characteristics, and Sustainability of Self-Compacting Earth Concrete

Afshin Khodaparast; kianoosh samimi; Javad Eslami

doi:10.26168/ajce.43.1.75

Afshin Khodaparast Faculty of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
kianoosh samimi Faculty of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
Javad Eslami University of Cergy-Pontoise, Laboratoire de Mécanique et Matériaux du Génie Civil, EA4114, F-95000 Cergy-Pontoise, France.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26168/ajce.43.1.75

Keywords: CO2 emission, Self-Compacted Earth Concrete (SCEC), Pumice, Superplasticizer, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Abstract

This study explores the potential of Pumice as a natural pozzolan in Self-Compacting Earth Concrete (SCEC), focusing on its effects on physical, mechanical, microstructural properties, and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). According to earth concrete design mixtures, clay is substituted for cement in amounts of 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%. Also, SCEC-C50 mixture were prepared with varying Pumice contents (10%, 15%, 25%, 35%) to assess their properties. A 15% Pumice mixture exhibited compressive strength similar to that of SCEC with 50% earth after long-term curing. Additionally, Pumice improved ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and microstructure, promoting CH and C-S-H production while minimizing ettringite formation. Incorporating Pumice at 15% reduced environmental impact, decreasing CO₂ emissions and environmental weight by approximately 53%. This research highlights pumice-based SCEC as a promising eco-friendly alternative in the construction industry.