Performance evaluation of marble powder and fly ash concrete for non-structural applications

Abstract

This research was carried out to produce non-structural concrete by utilizing the maximum quantity of marble powder without compromising the strength and durability. Low-strength concrete is often regarded as non-structural for its various non-load bearing applications. This type of concrete has a huge volume of consumption in construction. However, it needs to be addressed in mainstream research. Concrete production consumes a large amount of non-renewable material and can be reduced by utilizing industrial by-products, namely marble powder and fly ash. The objective of the study is to explore the maximum potential utilization of marble powder to produce non-structural low-strength green concrete. Generally, low-strength concrete is prepared with a higher water binder (w/b) ratio, which has the potential for utilization of high-volume powder material. Therefore, marble powder concrete mixes without and with 15 % fly ash are prepared with a w/b ratio of 0.5, 0.7, 0.85, 1.0, and 1.15. Different quantities of marble powder were added into the mixes to maintain powder content of 350 kg/m3, 550 kg/m3, 750 kg/m3, and 950 kg/m3 in all w/b ratios. This study evaluates the effect of marble powder on mechanical and permeability properties and economic and natural resource saving. In higher w/b ratios, the conventional permeability (DIN 1048) test method is not helpful as water completely percolates the samples. Therefore, a new test method was used to assess water permeation. The result reveals that marble powder utilization improves cohesivity, making it easier to control workability. It reduced the permeability, so the time of water penetration was delayed. The cost of the concrete is reduced by 10 % due to marble powder, saving about 40 % of aggregates. A higher quantity of marble powder utilization up to 794 kg/m3 is possible at the higher water-cement ratio, making the mix producible and feasible for non-structural concrete applications.