Study on Partial Replacement of Fine and Coarse Aggregates by Ceramic Waste in Concrete

Abstract

Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the world, but its production depends heavily on natural aggregates such as sand and crushed stone. Continuous extraction of these materials has created environmental concerns including depletion of riverbeds, habitat destruction, and increasing construction waste. Ceramic waste generated from broken tiles, sanitary ware, and construction debris has emerged as a sustainable alternative material for concrete production. This review paper examines the use of ceramic waste as a partial replacement for fine and coarse aggregates in concrete. The study reviews research papers published between 2015 and 2025 and compares the influence of ceramic waste on compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, workability, and durability properties of concrete. The findings from the reviewed literature indicate that replacement levels between 20% and 30% generally provide optimum performance. Within this range, concrete exhibits improved mechanical properties while maintaining acceptable workability and durability. In addition, the use of ceramic waste helps reduce landfill disposal and conserves natural aggregate resources.

Introduction

This review paper examines the use of ceramic waste as a replacement for natural aggregates in concrete to promote sustainable construction practices. Concrete production consumes large amounts of natural aggregates, while ceramic waste from broken tiles, sanitary ware, manufacturing defects, and demolition activities contributes significantly to landfill waste and environmental pollution. Since ceramic materials are durable, hard, and chemically stable, researchers have investigated their potential use in concrete as an alternative to natural aggregates.

The study aims to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of ceramic waste, its effects on fresh and hardened concrete, optimal replacement levels for fine and coarse aggregates, environmental benefits, and future research opportunities. Relevant research published mainly between 2015 and 2025 was reviewed using data from major academic databases.

The review shows that ceramic waste has properties comparable to natural aggregates, including adequate specific gravity, low water absorption, and good abrasion resistance. Its high silica and alumina content may also contribute to improved bonding within concrete mixtures. Recycling ceramic waste helps reduce landfill disposal and decreases the extraction of natural resources.

Studies on fine aggregate replacement indicate that replacing natural sand with ceramic waste can improve concrete performance at moderate levels. Research findings suggest that replacement levels of 20–30% generally provide the best balance of strength and workability. Some studies reported improved compressive strength due to better particle packing and filler effects, while excessive replacement may reduce workability because of the angular shape of ceramic particles.

Conclusion

This review paper evaluated the use of ceramic waste as a partial replacement for fine and coarse aggregates in concrete. Based on the reviewed literature, ceramic waste can be considered a sustainable and technically feasible material for concrete production. The major conclusions drawn from this review are as follows: 1) Ceramic waste improves compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength at moderate replacement levels. 2) Optimum replacement levels generally range between 20% and 30%. 3) Workability decreases with increasing ceramic content but can be controlled using admixtures. 4) Durability properties such as water absorption and sulphate resistance show improvement at optimum replacement levels. 5) Ceramic waste utilization reduces landfill disposal and conserves natural resources. Overall, ceramic waste concrete offers a promising solution for sustainable construction and waste management.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Vedika Udhan, Yadnika Udhan, Atul Karpe, Rupesh Kshirsagar, Dr. A. R. Deshmukh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.