Production of Greener High-Strength Concrete Using Russian Quartz Sandstone Mine Waste Aggregates.

Aleksandr Tolstoy,Yuriy Vasilev,Nikolai Vatin,Roman Fediuk,Murali Gunasekaran,Valery Lesovik,Mugahed Amran

doi:10.3390/ma13235575

Abstract

Quartz sandstone (QS) is a mine waste; therefore, its use in construction allows for both reducing the cost of the concrete and contributing to the utilization of waste. The scientific originality of this study is the identification of models of the effect of QS aggregate on the physicomechanical, durability characteristics, and eco-safety of greener high-strength concrete. The study used an energy-efficient method of non-thermal effects of electromagnetic pulses on the destruction mechanisms of quartz-containing raw materials. The characteristics of quartzite sandstone aggregates, including the natural activity of radionuclides, were comprehensively studied. The features of concrete hardening, including the formation of an interfacial transition zone between the aggregate and the cement matrix, were studied, taking into account the chemical and morphological features of quartzite sandstone. In addition, the microstructural and morphological properties of concrete were determined after a 28 day curing. In this study, the behaviors of the concrete with QS aggregate were investigated, bearing in mind the provisions of geomimetics science on the affinity of structures. The results obtained showed that the QS aggregate had the activity of natural radionuclides 3–4 times lower compared to traditional aggregates. Efficient greener concrete with a 46.3 MPa compressive strength, water permeability grade W14, and freeze–thaw resistance of 300 cycles were also obtained, demonstrating that the performance of this greener concrete was comparable to that of traditional concrete with more expensive granite or gabbro diabase aggregates.

Highlights

The current stage of the development of civilization is characterized by a deteriorating environmental situation, a lack of energy resources as well as natural and technological disasters [1,2,3].A person spends a significant part of his time surrounded by building materials that are designed to protect him from the negative effects of the environment [4,5,6]
Quartz sandstone is a mine waste; its use in construction allows both for reducing the cost of the concrete and contributing to the utilization of waste
The novelty of this study is the identification of models of the effect of Quartz sandstone (QS) aggregate on the physicomechanical, durability characteristics, and eco-safety of concrete

Summary

Introduction

The current stage of the development of civilization is characterized by a deteriorating environmental situation, a lack of energy resources as well as natural and technological disasters [1,2,3].A person spends a significant part of his time surrounded by building materials that are designed to protect him from the negative effects of the environment [4,5,6]. Natural or artificial aggregates are the main part (up to 90% by volume) of concrete and mortars; their quality and properties are largely determined by aggregates [7,8]. To save the binder, it is necessary that the strength of the aggregate is 1.2–1.5 times higher than the design class of concrete. This indicator mainly depends on the density and structure of the aggregate [9]. The important characteristics of the aggregates include the shape of the grains, the nature of the surface, structure, chemical composition, as well as economic indicators

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion