Some durability characteristics of ternary blended SCC containing crushed stone and induction furnace slag as coarse aggregate

Abstract

This study compares some of the durability characteristics between ternary blended self-compacting concrete (SCC) containing normal crushed stone and induction furnace slag (IF-Slag) as coarse aggregate. Two series of blended (silica fume + ground-granulated blast furnace slag) SCC mixtures were made, one with normal coarse aggregate and the second with IF-Slag aggregate. For comparing the performance of these two series of blended SCC mixtures, the following tests such as water absorption, coefficient of water absorption, volume of permeable pores, rate of capillary absorption, rapid chloride permeability, electrical resistivity, and ultrasonic pulse velocity were conducted. The experimental results showed that the performance of SCC made with IF-Slag coarse aggregate was considerably inferior to the SCC made with normal coarse aggregate. Inclusion of mineral additives improved the microstructure of the binder matrix through their pore refinement effect, which was noticed from the SEM images. Maximum improvement was achieved in the blended mix SCC-10/40, in which the absorption, coefficient of absorption, permeable pore volume and sorptivity values were reduced by around 28%, 40%, 27% and 44% respectively. It also increased the electrical resistance as well as chloride ion penetration resistance of both the series of SCC mixtures.