Study of Thermal Buckling in Thin Eco-Concrete Panels Reinforced with Cow Bone Particulates

Abstract

The pursuit of sustainable construction has become a central objective in modern civil engineering, driven by the urgent need to minimize environmental impact. Integrating recycled waste into construction materials represents a cornerstone of sustainability. It not only mitigates ecological burdens but also transforms waste into valuable resources for construction industry. Cow bones, which are commonly generated as waste from households, slaughterhouses, and meat markets, represent a promising alternative material due to their availability, composition, mechanical strength and slow degradation. The aim of this study is to assess whether cow bone powder can enhance the thermal stability of concrete plates while partially substituting conventional materials such as cement or fine sand. Specifically, it examines the thermal buckling behavior of a thin eco‑concrete panel reinforced with cow bone particulates. After being crushed and homogenized, the cow bone particles are incorporated into the concrete mixture to evaluate their influence on the critical temperature at which thermal buckling occurs. The effective thermo-mechanical properties are estimated using the FU–SHY homogenization rule. Classical Plate Theory, First-Order Shear Deformation Theory, and Higher-Order Shear Deformation Theory are then used to predict the critical buckling temperature. The findings indicate that increasing the cow bone powder content reduces stiffness, density, and thermal conductivity, while slightly increasing Poisson’s ratio and thermal expansion. However, the addition of cow bone powder adversely affects thermal stability by lowering the critical buckling temperature.