Properties of fibre-reinforced concrete made with discarded materials

Abstract

This research paper investigates the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of steel slag aggregates (SSA), gravel aggregates (GLA), natural gabbro aggregates (NGA), and the different fresh and hardened properties of concrete mixtures prepared using SSA, GLA and NGA. Furthermore, this paper presents the compression and flexural test results of different concrete mixtures made with SSA or NGA combined with different volume fractions of basalt macro-fibre (BMF). The investigated parameters included the type of coarse aggregates, the replacement of the recycled aggregates (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) and the volume fraction of BMF (0.25% and 1.0%). Test results have shown that replacing NGA with GLA reduces both the compressive and tensile strength of the concrete. However, concrete made with SSA tends to result in a higher compressive strength than that made with NGA. In addition, the test results showed a considerable improvement in mechanical concrete properties with increasing BMF volume fractions.