Experimental investigation on the influence of induction furnace slag on the fundamental and durability properties of virgin and recycled brick aggregate concrete

Abstract

Concrete produced by brick/recycled brick aggregates exhibit lower mechanical and durability properties in comparison to concrete produced by conventional stone aggregates due to high water absorption, low strength and density of brick/recycled brick aggregates. Induction furnace slag (IFS), a variant of industrial steel by-product possesses the characteristic feature of high density. In addition, water absorption of IFS is much lower than brick/recycled brick aggregates and comparable to stone aggregates. Considering these features of IFS, there is high possibility that the mechanical and durability properties of brick/recycled brick aggregate concrete can be improved if IFS is utilized as replacement of virgin/recycled brick aggregates. In this context, this study has been planned. To facilitate the study, specimens were cast by utilizing IFS as replacement of brick and recycled brick aggregates at three altering W/C of 0.75, 0.68 and 0.63 and four different slag replacement ratio of 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and tested for fresh, physical, mechanical and durability properties of concrete after a curing age of 7, 28 and 91 days. Results show that incorporation of IFS in concrete as replacement of virgin/recycled brick aggregate is advantageous as it improves the mechanical and durability properties of concrete.

Keywords

• Induction furnace slag
• Virgin brick aggregate
• Recycled brick aggregate
• Fresh behavior
• Mechanical properties
• Durability properties