Performance of Steel Slag as a Partial Replacement Fine Aggregate Incorporating Superplasticizer

Abstract

Steel slag is a by-product which can be obtained from steel industry and generated as a waste during the production of steel. Besides, it has been declared a useful construction material, not an industrial waste by most of the developed countries. However, in Malaysia, the rate of utilization of steel slag is very low compared to other developed countries. This paper aims to experimentally study and investigate the effect of steel slag as partial replacement of fine aggregate incorporating superplasticizer in concrete. For this purpose, tested samples consisting of 150 mm concrete cubes and cylinder samples with 150 mm diameter and 300 mm height are prepared and mixed with superplasticizer, namely Sika Visco Crete(VC 2192). Compressive strength, split tensile strength, workability, and ultrasonic pulse velocity of concrete with replacement of fine aggregate by steel slag aggregate are examined and compared with control mix design without replacement of steel slag aggregate. The optimum percentage of replacement of fine and coarse aggregate by steel slag is found. Workability of concrete gradually increases, as the percentage of replacement increases. Yet when beyond 20% of replacement, it starts to decrease, which is found by using slump test. Moreover, compressive strength, tensile strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity are experimentally investigated. The results point out that for conventional concrete, the partial replacement of fine aggregates by steel slag improves the compressive, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and tensile strength.