DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE USING SUPPLEMENTARY CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS: EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL STRENGTH, DURABILITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the construction sector has increased demand for concrete while intensifying concerns regarding the environmental impact of Portland cement production. High-performance concrete (HPC) provides superior mechanical strength and durability, but its conventional production may require high cement contents, resulting in increased embodied energy and carbon dioxide emissions. The incorporation of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), including fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), silica fume, metakaolin, and other industrial or agricultural by-products, provides an effective pathway for developing more sustainable high-performance concrete. This article evaluates the influence of SCM incorporation on the mechanical, durability, and environmental performance of HPC through a literature-based analytical approach. Particular attention is given to compressive strength, flexural performance, permeability, chloride resistance, carbonation, shrinkage, and embodied carbon. The reviewed literature demonstrates that appropriately selected and proportioned SCMs can reduce Portland cement consumption while maintaining or improving long-term mechanical and durability characteristics. Fine SCMs such as silica fume and metakaolin can significantly refine the pore structure, whereas slag and fly ash can provide substantial reductions in clinker content and environmental impact. Recent studies indicate that optimized binary and ternary SCM systems can achieve a favorable balance between strength, durability, and carbon reduction. However, excessive replacement levels may negatively influence early-age strength, workability, and carbonation resistance. Therefore, sustainable HPC should be designed through performance-based optimization rather than maximizing SCM content. The article proposes an integrated framework for selecting SCMs and optimizing concrete mixtures according to mechanical, durability, and environmental criteria.