Enhancement of Mechanical Properties and Porosity of Concrete Using Steel Slag Coarse Aggregate

Abstract

This paper investigates the possibility of utilizing steel slags produced in the steelmaking industry as an alternative to burnt clay brick aggregate (BA) in concrete. Within this context, physical, mechanical (i.e., compressive and splitting tensile strength), length change, and durability (porosity) tests were conducted on concrete made with nine different percentage replacements (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, and 100% by volume of BA) of BA by induction of furnace steel slag aggregate (SSA). In addition, the chemical composition of aggregate through X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and microstructural analysis through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of aggregates and concrete were performed. The experimental results show that the physical and mechanical properties of concrete made with SSA were significantly higher than that of concrete made with BA. The compressive and tensile strength increased by 73% when SSA fully replaced BA. The expansion of concrete made with SSA was a bit higher than the concrete made with BA. Furthermore, a significant lower porosity was observed for concrete made with SSA than BA, which decreased by 40% for 100% SSA concrete than 100% BA concrete. The relation between compressive and tensile strength with the porosity of concrete mixes are in agreement with the relationships presented in the literature. This study demonstrates that SSA can be used as a full replacement of BA, which is economical, conserves the natural aggregate, and is sustainable building material since burning brick produces a lot of CO2.

Study of the Properties of Blended Cements Containing Various Types of Slag Cements and Limestone Powder

“…While there is research conducted into alternative methods of clinker production, for example, by Ellis et al [ 6 ], the most efficient and economically sound method of lowering the negative impact of clinker production is to use waste materials [ 7 ], make the more efficient use of cement in concrete and mortar production, and increase the substitution of clinker by supplementary cementitious materials [ 8 ]. The European Standardization Committee has begun to broaden the range of common cements in the working draft of standard prEN-197-5 [ 9 ] by extending the possibilities of using non-clinker main components in cements by introducing CEM II/C-M and CEM VI, which will include, respectively, up to 50 and 65% of supplementary cementitious materials.…”

Impact of Induction Furnace Steel Slag as Replacement for Fired Clay Brick Aggregate on Flexural and Durability Performances of RC Beams

“…However, compared with 100% natural aggregate concrete, the requirements of numerous guidelines were met for classification as a good quality of concrete [ 21 ]. Similarly, it was found that 100% IFSSA is suitable as coarse aggregate to produce concrete without compromising the compressive and tensile strength [ 22 ].…”

“…On the other hand, fired clay brick aggregate (FCBA) is commonly used as coarse aggregate in most countries in South Asia, especially in Bangladesh [ 22 , 23 ]. Fired clay bricks are widely made by molding wet clay into the required shape and size and then burning these clay blocks in an open brickfield kiln at around 1000–1200 °C [ 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…In Bangladesh, the concrete industry mainly depends on crushed brick aggregate due to the scarcity of natural stone. However, Miah et al [ 22 ] observed that the concrete made with brick aggregate has significantly lower mechanical strength and higher porosity than conventional concrete. SEM analysis of brick aggregate and concrete made with FCBA showed that brick aggregates contain more voids and cracks.…”

Recycled Materials for Concrete and Other Composites

“…The physical and mechanical properties of concrete composites containing waste thermoplastic elastomer from the production process of car floor mats is presented by Ulewicz et al [ 12 ]. Miah et al [ 13 ] present the effect of steel slag aggregate as a substitute for conventionally used brick aggregate on the physical, mechanical and durability performances of concretes. In turn, Dobiszewska and Beycioğlu [ 14 ] show that waste basalt powder, which is a by-product of the production of mineral–asphalt mixtures, used as a partial sand replacement, increases the compressive strength of concretes.…”