Enhancing Concrete Barrier Reflectivity with a Focus on Recycled Glass Aggregate Replacement

Abstract

On the roadways of the United States, increased accident rates during the evening and rainy weather conditions entail the need of improving the visibility of highway concrete barriers. The reflectance of these delineators is directly correlated to their degree of visibility. The use of white cement as opposed to grey cement and the installation of raised pavement markings to the side of the barriers are two of the suggested approaches that might potentially boost the reflectivity of these concrete barriers. There are several other potential methods. One of the suggested approaches that was put through more laboratory testing was the use of recycled glass in the production of concrete. The purpose of the laboratory experiment was to determine the appropriate mixing proportions that would reduce the likelihood of the alkali-silica reaction (ASR) occuring in recycled glass aggregate concretes without having any detrimental impacts on the compressive strength of the concrete. This paper includes the results of an evaluation done on the retro reflectivity of different concrete mixes.