Durability and Sustainability Assessment of Concrete Incorporating Sea Water and Sea Sand as Alternative Mixing Materials

Abstract

The increasing scarcity of freshwater and river sand resources has prompted the exploration of marine materials as sustainable alternatives in concrete production. This study investigates the durability and sustainability performance of concrete mixtures prepared using sea water and sea sand as partial replacements for conventional mixing components. Experimental evaluations were conducted to examine the compressive strength, chloride penetration, water absorption, and microstructural characteristics of the concrete specimens. The results revealed that, while sea water and sea sand mixtures slightly reduced early-age strength compared to conventional concrete, they demonstrated satisfactory long-term performance and acceptable durability under marine exposure conditions. Moreover, the life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated that the use of locally available marine resources significantly reduces environmental impacts associated with freshwater extraction and river sand mining. Therefore, incorporating sea water and sea sand in concrete represents a promising approach toward sustainable construction, particularly in coastal and island regions where freshwater and natural aggregates are limited.