Abstract
The increase in the demand for concrete production for the development of infrastructures in developing countries like Ethiopia leads to the depletion of virgin aggregates and high cement demand, which imposes negative environmental impacts. In sustainable development, there is a need for construction materials to focus on the economy, efficient energy utilization, and environmental protections. One of the strategies in green concrete production is the use of locally available construction materials. Scoria is widely available around the central towns of Ethiopia, especially around the rift valley regions where huge construction activities are taking place. The aim of this paper is therefore to analyze the suitability of scoria as a fine aggregate for concrete production and its effect on the properties of concrete. A differing ratio of scoria was considered as a partial replacement of fine aggregate with river sand after analyzing its engineering properties, and its effect on the mechanical properties of concrete were examined. The test results on the engineering properties of scoria revealed that the material is suitable to be used as a fine aggregate in concrete production. The replacement of scoria with river sand also enhanced the mechanical strength of the concrete. Generally, the findings of the experimental study showed that scoria could replace river sand by up to 50% for conventional concrete production.
Highlights
Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the construction industry of Ethiopia, like other countries of the world
The use of locally available construction materials that are suitable for concrete production is recommended for the improvement of concrete performance at a comparable environmental incidence and lifetime [12]
The test result of the experimental work shows that the workability of the fresh concrete slightly increases as the amount of scoria replaced as fine aggregate increases
Summary
Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the construction industry of Ethiopia, like other countries of the world. The production of concrete-making materials or ingredients usually needs high energy, costs, and causes environmental pollution. Green concrete is characterized by the application of industrial by-products or alternative materials for wise utilization of natural resources and to save energy besides minimizing environmental pollution [1]. The increase in the demand for concrete production leads to the depletion of virgin concrete ingredients, which is a critical issue for all stakeholders of the construction industry for sustainable economic growth, in developing countries. There is a need to provide further attention to construction materials with regards to the economy, wise energy utilization, and environmental protection for sustainable development [2]. Fine aggregate is one of the ingredients of concrete that needs to get considerable attention in the production of green concrete, and it usually comprises up to 30% to 35% of the total volume of concrete. Natural or river sand is the most commonly used fine aggregate in the production of concrete
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