Engineering and Life Cycle Assessment of Activated Recycled Glass-Based Concretes

目前，由于收集点和玻璃熔化设施之间的运输成本过高，大量的回收玻璃容器被储存起来。 本研究的目的是利用这种废料作为替代生态负波特兰水泥的高性能和环保的混凝土材料。 本研究（1）对碱-钙环境中的钠钙玻璃的反应性进行多尺度调查，以使用优化的化学和物理处理显著增强玻璃的火山灰反应性;（2）探索火山灰和碱-硅反应之间的联系以及钙在改变这些反应中的作用;以及（3）进行全面的环境和经济生命周期评估，以便对玻璃基混凝土与传统波特兰水泥和粉煤灰混凝土的成本和生态影响进行定量比较。 宾夕法尼亚州立大学和卡内基梅隆大学之间的合作努力导致了一种新的方法，将详细的环境和经济分析与绿色材料的设计和工程相结合，以确定材料加工和配比的最佳选择，同时确保新产品和技术的可持续性。通过更有效地使用火山灰材料，提高对碱-硅反应机制及其缓解技术的认识（将适用于天然活性骨料），提高混凝土基础设施的效率。 研究与教育的结合是通过以下方式实现的：（a）开发课程单元（通过可持续工程中心的在线图书馆传播），为土木工程师提供关于应用环境生命周期评估方法以及设计和测试非硅酸盐水泥混凝土的信息;及（B）举办夏令营，透过以下项目，吸引未来的女学生接受土木工程教育及就业-基于学习经验。

Currently, significant quantities of recycled glass containers are stockpiled due to prohibitive transportation costs between collection points and glass melting facilities. The objective of this research is to utilize this waste material as a replacement of eco-negative portland cement in high-performance and environmentally efficient concrete materials. The research (1) performs a multi-scale investigation of the reactivity of soda-lime glass in alkaline-calcium environments to significantly enhance the pozzolanic reactivity of glass using optimized chemical and physical treatments; (2) explores the link between pozzolanic and alkali-silica reactions and the role of calcium in altering these reactions; and (3) conducts comprehensive environmental and economical life-cycle assessments to allow quantitative comparisons of the cost and eco-impact of glass-based concretes with those of conventional portland cement and fly ash concretes. This collaborative effort between Penn State and Carnegie Mellon universities leads to a new approach in integrating detailed environmental and economic analysis with design and engineering of green materials to determine the best choices for material processing and proportioning while ensuring the sustainability of new products and technologies.The research findings will have broader impacts on improving the durability and eco-efficiency of concrete infrastructure by more effective use of pozzolanic materials and advancing the knowledge on the mechanism of alkali-silica reaction and its mitigation techniques (which will be applicable to natural reactive aggregates). Integration of research and education is accomplished by (a) development of course modules (disseminated through the online library of Center for Sustainable Engineering) for civil engineers on applying environmental life cycle assessment methods, as well as designing and testing non-portland cement concretes; and (b) organizing a summer camp to attract prospective female students to education and careers in civil engineering through a project-based learning experience.