Experimental Study on the Mutual Influence of Fly Ash, Silica Fume & Fibers on Strength Enhancement of Portland Cement

Abstract

Abstract: Mineral additives have a wide range of applications today because of their benefits such as waste evaluation for ecological balance and improving the physical and mechanical qualities of cement or concrete. Fly ash and silica fume are two of the wastes. These raw materials were subjected to physical, chemical, mineralogical, and molecular analysis for this purpose. Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) with excellent tensile strain capacity and repeated cracking often contain fly ash (FA) as a key component. Silica fume can either be "added" (added individually at the concrete mixer) or mixed with a composite cement that is manufactured in a factory. This essay examines the advantages and usefulness of using fly ash and silica fume. Silica fume can typically be used with chemical admixtures, and it is typically used with a super-plasticizer, just like with conventional concretes. Tests should be conducted to determine the right dose levels as the performance of admixtures may depend on the unique characteristics of the source of the cementation's material (as with OPC cement). Supplementary cementing materials (SCMs) are utilized in concrete to partially replace the Portland cement component and exhibit pozzolanic and/or cementitious qualities. High-performance concrete contains an essential component called supplemental cementing material. In particular, when great strength and durability turn out to be the most desired attributes of high-performance concrete, the insertion of supplemental cementing material is crucial. Several well-known supplemental cementing materials, including fly ash, silica fume, and powdered granulated blast-furnace slag, are presented in this work. The impact of using steel fibers, fly ash, silica fume, and various combinations of them are evaluated in this paper. This study aims to ascertain how fly ash, silica fume, and fibers interact with Portland cement to increase concrete strength, reduce internal cracks, and increase tensile strength.