Performance based evaluation of modified high performance concrete by using ferro slag aggregates and admixtures

Abstract

Concrete is a compound of heterogeneous materials namely cement, sand, natural stone aggregate, and water. It is widely used in civil engineering constructions. Presently, a kind of concrete namely high strength and high performance concrete is preferred worldwide in the construction of infrastructures in special situations like weak soil, seismic zones, marine milieu ports, harbours and jetties, strong wind force stacks, chimneys and silos, underground tunnels, runways, flyovers, and high rise buildings. High performance concrete is produced with the addition of mineral admixtures viz., fly ash and silica fume to normal concrete mix. Utilization of natural resources such as limestone, sand, and natural stone aggregate produces a negative impact on the environment. Fly ash, silica fume, and ferro slag are industrial byproducts and the safe disposal of these waste materials without affecting the environment is a challenging task. The civil engineering industry having great concern for the protection of environment has begun to use the industrial byproducts as alternative substances for cement, fine aggregate (sand), and coarse aggregate (blue metal) in the production of concrete. This strategy helps in the conservation of environment. In the present research high performance concrete (modified ferro slag aggregate concrete) was produced as per the standards of American Concrete Institute (ACI -211.1-91) with the addition of fly ash and silica fume to conventional concrete mix. Moreover, natural coarse aggregate was partially replaced by ferro slag aggregate in various proportions (0 to 100%). Fly ash and silica fume were added as substances partially replacing cement. M60 grade was adopted for all mixes of concrete. newline