Prediction on partial replacement of cement and coarse aggregate by zeolite powder and steel slag in high-performance concrete

Abstract

High performance concrete is obtained by the inclusion of mineral admixtures like silica fume and fly ash in the concrete.. The research explores the viability and performance of sustainable concrete by introducing zeolite powder as a partial substitute for cement and steel slag as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate in M-70 grade concrete. Zeolite powder, possessing pozzolanic properties, is a natural or synthetic aluminosilicate material, while steel slag is an industrial byproduct with potential as an alternative aggregate source. The main objective is to investigate the impact of zeolite powder and steel slag on the development of High-Performance Concrete (M-70) in accordance with BIS standards.The formulation of high-performance concrete involved replacing 12.5%, 15%, and 17.5% of the cement with zeolite powder and varying the proportion of steel slag as a replacement for coarse aggregate (ranging from 30% to 55%). A comprehensive mechanical test was conducted on these specimens and compared with conventional concrete. Among the 21 mixes, the optimal combination was identified, incorporating 15% zeolite powder as a cement replacement and 45% steel slag as a coarse aggregate replacement, resulting in superior performance compared to conventional concrete.Subsequently, the experimental results were compared with predicted outcomes using the Taguchi method. The close alignment between the values obtained experimentally and those predicted further validates the effectiveness of the optimized mix ZP15SS45. This mix was further studied for water absorption, non-destructive testing, and microstructural analysis. The results from these investigations indicate that the optimum mix outperforms conventional concrete in terms of water absorption, non-destructive testing, and microstructural characteristics.