Recycled Dredged Sediments as a Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Concrete Production

Calcined clay is increasingly used in construction applications due to its pozzolanic effect. This research paper investigates the potential use of calcined recycled dredged sediments as an eco- friendly supplementary cementitious material in partial replacement of ordinary portland cement (OPC). The main objective of this research is to reduce cement consumption in concrete production process to minimize the carbon footprint of produced concrete and increase the overall project sustainability. Five concrete mixes were designed including one control mix (with zero calcined clay sediment replacement) and four mixes with stepwise replacement of OPC using calcined clay sediment at ratios ranging from 10% to 40% (by weight). Produced mixes are prepared using consistent batching, mixing, pouring, compaction, and curing procedures to quantify the impact of calcined clay variation on concrete properties. The compressive strength test results of concrete mixes showed that calcined clay can successfully replace OPC up to 30% (by weight) without reducing concrete compressive strength. The successful incorporation of calcined clay sediment in concrete industry will significantly reduce the negative impact of concrete construction projects on the surrounding environment and participate in the increased LEED rating of concrete buildings.