This paper investigates the potential application of red ceramic waste as supplementary cementitious materials in structural concrete as a strategy to implement a circular economy in the Brazilian construction industry from a sustainable infrastructure perspective. The experimental program comprehends the waste characterization and application in concrete mixtures produced with different w/b (0.35, 0.45, and 0.55) and Portland cement replacement (5%, 10%, 20%, and 40%). Eco-efficiency intensity indicators considering cement consumption, carbon dioxide emission, and embodied energy complement the structural concrete assessment. Concrete mixtures with up to 40% of waste, combined with w/b 0.35 and 0.45, did not compromise the concrete structural performance regarding compressive strength. The relatively low water absorption in concrete mixtures produced with up to 40% Portland replacement by red ceramic waste suggests concrete ability to restrain water and vapor ingress on a satisfactory level. Structural concrete with Portland cement replacement by 20% or 40% of waste showed better performance from the eco-efficiency perspective. Structural concrete with Portland cement replacement by 20% or 40% of waste can preserve mechanical properties, reduce carbon dioxide release, and implement a circular economy in the construction industry.

本文研究了红色陶瓷废料在结构混凝土中作为补充胶凝材料的潜在应用，作为从可持续基础设施的角度在巴西建筑业实施循环经济的策略。实验计划包括废物表征和在用不同 w/b（0.35、0.45 和 0.55）和波特兰水泥替代品（5%、10%、20% 和 40%）生产的混凝土混合物中的应用。考虑水泥消耗、二氧化碳排放和隐含能源的生态效率强度指标补充了结构混凝土评估。含有高达 40% 废物的混凝土混合物，结合 w/b 0.35 和 0.45，不会影响混凝土的抗压强度结构性能。用红色陶瓷废料代替高达 40% 的波特兰所生产的混凝土混合物的吸水率相对较低，这表明混凝土能够在令人满意的水平上抑制水和蒸汽的进入。从生态效率的角度来看，用 20% 或 40% 的废物替代波特兰水泥的结构混凝土表现出更好的性能。用 20% 或 40% 的废弃物替代波特兰水泥的结构混凝土可以保持机械性能，减少二氧化碳排放，并在建筑行业实现循环经济。