Strength Characteristics of Red Mud and Silica Fume Based Concrete

Abstract

Red mud is a residue of alumina refinery plant; it has high alkaline nature which leads to contamination of nearby lands, water bodies, and air. One ton of alumina produces more than one ton of red mud. The disposal of red mud can be reduced by using it as a replacement to cement in concrete. Also, silica fume used as a ternary mineral in red mud based concrete. The proportion of silica fume as a replacement to cement is kept constant at 5% by weight of cement, and red mud is used as a replacement to cement from 0 to 25% with an interval of 5%. All concrete mixes are tested against flexural, split tensile, and compressive strengths to know the mechanical properties, and also rapid chloride penetration test is conducted to know the durability property. Results showed that the 20% replacement of red mud had shown greater strength values in mechanical properties. Increase in percentage of red mud offered more resistance against chloride ions movement in concrete.