Evaluating the Effects of Natural Zeolite on the Mechanical Properties and Freeze–Thaw Performance of Cementitious Concrete Mixtures

This experimental study investigates the influence of natural zeolite incorporation on the mechanical behavior and environmental durability of cement-based concrete mixtures. Different zeolite replacement ratios were evaluated to examine their effects on compressive strength development, workability, alkali–silica reaction behavior, and freeze–thaw resistance under controlled laboratory conditions. The experimental results indicate that limited zeolite replacement can contribute to compressive strength enhancement and help reduce harmful internal reactions within cementitious systems. However, increasing zeolite content was observed to negatively influence freeze–thaw durability performance under severe environmental exposure conditions. The study provides experimental insight into the application of natural pozzolanic materials as supplementary cementitious additives and discusses their potential role in sustainable, performance-oriented, and environmentally responsive concrete technologies.