Utilization of Local Steelmaking Slag in Concrete

Abstract

In this study, the use of locally produced electrical are furnace (EAF) steel slag in concrete manufacturing is investigated. The slag was used as coarse aggregate since it proved to be quite hard and did not contain any appreciable free chemical compounds of potentially adverse effects such as lime. For comparison, crushed wadi gravel was used in parallel to the slag. Mechanical properties as well as the drying shrinkage of both slag and gravel concrete were measured. The results showed compressive and flexural strengths for slag concrete to be similar to slightly higher than gravel concrete, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity to be higher and drying shrinkage to be lower than that of gravel concrete. The results of this investigation are encouraging since they show that using slag as coarse aggregate in concrete has no negative effects on short term properties of hardened concrete. However, further investigation on the effect of steel slag on the long term properties of concrete is required before a recommendation can be given for using the steel slag as coarse aggregate in concrete.