Mineral Admixtures Research Articles

Effect of mechanical activation on hydration properties of natural volcanic rock towards partially replacing cement in composite cementitious materials

With the rapid increase in the consumption of various mineral admixtures, using regional distinctive raw materials to prepare cement mineral admixtures is an effective approach to achieve green and sustainable development. In this paper, the natural volcanic rocks (NVR) in Western Sichuan are mechanically activated at different times, subsequently, the ion dissolution characteristics of NVR powder at different activation times and the hydration mechanism of NVR powder composite cementitious material are studied. In a simulated alkaline environment of cementitious liquid phase, based on the dissolution behavior of Si4+, Al3+, and Ca2+ ions in NVR powder and the morphological analysis of NVR powder before and after dissolution, it is indicated that SiO2 and Al2O3 are the primary sources of reactivity in NVR powder and the reduction in particle size promotes the breakage of Si–O and Al–O bonds in NVR powder. Analysis of the hydration process, mineral composition of hydration products, and their microscopic morphology reveals that an appropriate amount (15 %) of NVR powder, after 45 min of mechanical activation, can promote the generation of hydration products and denser mortar structure, enhancing the strength of the composite cementitious material. Mainly attributed to the increased volcanic ash activity of NVR powder through mechanical activation, as well as the nucleation induction and filling effects of NVR powder. This study provides theoretical and technical supports for the efficient use of raw materials with regional characteristics to prepare mineral admixtures.

Green way of improving the thermal efficiency of mortars by the addition of biobased phase change materials

The thermal efficiency of air lime-based mortars was improved by directly integrating varying amounts (5 wt. %, 10 wt. %, and 20 wt. %) of a microencapsulated biobased phase change material (PCM) into the fresh mortars. This PCM is made of vegetable oils and other organic wastes from the agri-food sector. The mortar formulation was optimized by adding different chemical additives and mineral admixtures. The mortar formulation was meticulously designed to produce rendering mortars that are easily workable, crack-free, and fully adherent for use in building envelopes. Positive outcomes in thermal efficiency tests have demonstrated the ability of these materials to store thermal latent energy, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to enhance the thermal comfort of building inhabitants.

Synergistic Effects of Composite Expired Cement Fly Ash Cold-bonding Aggregates and Mineral Admixtures on Mechanical and Drying Shrinkage Performance of Sustainable Self-compacted Concrete

Synergistic Effects of Composite Expired Cement Fly Ash Cold-bonding Aggregates and Mineral Admixtures on Mechanical and Drying Shrinkage Performance of Sustainable Self-compacted Concrete

Durability and FTIR Characteristics of Sustainable Bacterial Concrete with Mineral Admixtures

The objective of this study is to optimize the concentrations of bacillus megaterium (BM), alccofine (AF), and silica fume (SF) in self-healing concrete while controlling the content of manufactured sand (M-sand). This research addresses the pressing need for sustainable alternatives to traditional cement as excessive energy consumption and environmental impacts continue challenging the construction industry. A novel “binary and ternary blended cementitious system” was developed, featuring twelve distinct mix proportions. M-sand was fully utilized as an acceptable aggregate substitute, with bacterial concentrations of (10–50)·105 cells/ml incorporated to mitigate crack formation. Cement was partially replaced with AF, and the M-sand content was adjusted from 0 to 20 % in 5 % increments. This study also uniquely evaluates the durability properties of the various cementitious systems, including water absorption, concrete density, porosity, long-term strength retention, and rapid chloride permeability – at intervals of 7, 14, and 28 days post-curing. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to analyze calcite precipitation, providing insights into the biochemical mechanisms. The results indicate that while SF demonstrates superior effectiveness compared to AF, combining both enhances durability compared to alternative mixes. The findings reveal that bacterial concrete incorporating zeolites can significantly improve structural strength and be a sustainable building material. Notably, incorporating additional cementitious materials with mineral admixtures increased strength by up to 10 % through optimized bacterial concentrations. The successful precipitation of calcium carbonate confirmed the beneficial properties of the bacterial agents, which are safe and non-toxic to the environment. Overall, this study contributes valuable knowledge on reducing cement usage and carbon dioxide emissions, positioning BM, alongside AF and SF, as a promising approach for environmentally friendly concrete solutions.

Advancements in Concrete Performance by Using Waste materials in the Mixture

There have been serious research advancements in concrete materials to make construction more sustainable. Specifically, this is true with regard to alternative ingredients used for self-compacting concrete (SCC) production. To improve its sustainability, this study is aimed at adding Fine Recycled Concrete Aggregate (FRCA) and Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) into SCC. Crushed and reclaimed asphalt (RCA), on the other hand, has many benefits including lower environmental impact and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, there are several issues associated with contractors’ knowledge among others being variations in their properties. It’s also known that FRCA can imbibe water faster; hence, mineral admixtures may be introduced to further enhance mechanical behaviour of the concrete. Fly ash and geopolymer synthesis are examples of waste products from industry as well as by-products of coal combustion which are useful in making green concretes. The best results would be achieved if fly ash, a popular Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) that reduces Ordinary Portland Cement’s (OPC’s) need is divided according to its oxide content. In order for geopolymers to become an alternative for cement making materials such as aluminosilicate source or alkali reactants are applied. Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) enhances performance of concrete even more with strain-hardening properties, especially in terms of durability and tensile capacity. On the whole, manufacturing concrete from recycled and industrial waste products is cost effective and environmentally beneficial. These materials can be maximized if prope performance-driven design strategies and contemporary waste management systems are put into place. This paper emphasizes how essential and crucial it is to incorporate sustainable methods in the production of concrete to create a more environment friendly construction industry.

Resistência à compressão e desempenho ambiental de cimentos com resíduo de serragem de mármore.

Abstract Replacing limestone filler by waste marble dust is one of the paths to explore, at a regional level, to stimulate circularity and reduce environmental burdens of ornamental stone processing. This study investigated six blended cements which combined supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and limestone filler or waste marble dust, with a clinker factor of 50%. Compressive strength was determined at 3, 7, 28 and 91 days and evaluated based on the criteria standardized in ABNT NBR 16697:2018. The cementing efficiency at 7 and 28 days of the set of mineral admixtures used and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity of each cement were also calculated. The synergy between the combinations reduced the clinker factor and cement GHG emissions, whilst preserving the mechanical performance required by the construction market.

Effect of mineral admixtures on the performance of self-compacting geopolymer concrete

Self-Compacting Geopolymer Concrete (SCGC) emerges as a groundbreaking construction material in the domain of concrete technology. This method integrates supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), alkaline solutions like sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, and a superplasticizer to form a binder for matrix development and strength enhancement, thereby eliminating the need for compaction.In the present study, fly ash-based Self- Compacting Geopolymer Concrete (SCGC) was substituted with varying proportions of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS). Concrete specimens were subjected to curing under both oven and ambient conditions to assess their performance.The investigation unveiled that incorporating GGBS into fly ash-based SCGC resulted in reduced workability alongside improved strength with increasing binder content. Notably, SCGC samples cured at 70°C for 24 hours with a 50% replacement of GGBS emerged as the optimal proportion, meeting the required workability standards. However, surpassing this threshold led to a further enhancement in mechanical properties albeit at the expense of reduced workability.

Experimental study on the utilization of construction and demolition waste of recycled aggregate with GGBS and I-Crete in pavement quality concrete

This study investigates the mechanical properties of M40 concrete in Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) by incorporating Recycled Aggregates (RA) from construction, demolition waste and industrial wastes, such as GGBS and I-Crete, for sustainable pavement construction. The research explores varying proportions of RA (25% to 100% by weight in 25% intervals). Results show concrete mechanical strength decreases with higher RA proportions but all mixes still meet target strength criteria (compressive, flexural, split tensile) at 7, 28, and 90 days of curing. Further testing on 100% RA (MRCA-100) with GGBS admixture from 5% to 35% in 5% increments found strength improves significantly up to 10% GGBS replacement by cement weight, with subsequent decreases at higher percentages Initially. Then introducing the mineral additive, I-Crete at 2% by weight of cement in 15% to 35% GGBS range results in notable strength enhancement, peaking at 25% GGBS replacement. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and water absorption tests showed similar trends in 28-day strength across all mixes. Increased strength from better bonding was observed, with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showing enhanced hydration and bonding due to mineral admixture and additive. These findings underscore the efficacy of such additives in enhancing the mechanical strength of sustainable PQC.

To Study the Partial Replacement of Cement with Bamboo Leaf Ash and Addition of Glass Fiber

Abstract: Concrete could be a material which is a mixture of coarse and fine mixture bonded along with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens or cures over time. Once aggregate is mixed with cement & water, the mixture forms a fluid suspension that's simply poured and formed into shape. The cement reacts with the water and different constituents to create a tough matrix that binds all the materials along into a stone-like material that has several uses. Reinforcement material used should have excellent bonding characteristic, high tensile strength and good thermal compatibility. Reinforcement requires that there shall be smooth transmission of load from the concrete to the interface between concrete and reinforcement material and then on to reinforcement material. . Glass fiber-reinforced concrete premix is a mixture of AR glass fiber, sand, cement, water, chemical and mineral admixtures, and aggregate. These fibers reduce crack width and spacing between cracks. They are very high temperature resistant as they absorb high energy thereby providing the property of ductility the content of bamboo ash is constituted of inorganic minerals, which consists mainly silica, potassium and calcium. Magnesium and manganese are other two common minerals. The result shows that concrete workability is fine and within limits after replacing cement with BLA with adding glass fibers. However, workability gets reduced at higher replacement of materials. The strength parameters such as compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength also increase and show an optimum value at 12% cement replacement and 1.5% Addition of glass fibers respectively. Test results are satisfactory up to 12% and 1.5% replacement. After this, there is a decrease in the strength of concrete.

A Study on the Mechanical Properties of Alkali Activated Concrete Using Various Types of Synthetic Zeolites

Abstract -The world's most common man-made material is concrete. Portland cement is a key component of a typical concrete mix. However, about 5% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions are brought on by the manufacture of cement. Engineers and scientists need to invent and use a green building material to make the world more sustainable. Due to its corrosion resistance, geopolymer concrete is also significantly more durable than regular concrete. It is also significantly stronger than regular concrete. The development of green construction will be facilitated by the innovative sustainable building material known as geopolymer concrete. Alkali- activated materials also known as geopolymers, are made from a variety of materials (usually industrial byproducts) known as precursors. These are combined with an alkaline medium to create a cementitious material that can be used in place of Portland cement in the production of concrete. Mineral admixtures (such as fly ash and GGBS) are typically added in larger amounts in concrete to improve its workability, resistance to thermal cracking, alkali-aggregate expansion, and sulphate attack, and to allow for a reduction in cement content. In the current study, sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate were used as alkaline activators with a Molarity of 12M, and fly ash, GGBS, and types of synthetic zeolites as binder ingredients. 40% of GGBS is kept constant and fly ash is replaced with zeolite in various percentages. In this paper, zeolite is replaced with 5%, 7.5%, and 10% of fly ash to create geopolymer concretes. Zeolite powder obtained by the calcination process with the aid of sodium hydroxide and fly ash, industrial wastages. The performance of the created concrete is then evaluated using mechanical behavior on developed mix. Key Words: Alkali activator, fly ash, Ground granulated blast- frunace slag, synthetic zeolites, strength properties.

Optimization of mix proportion and strength prediction of magnesium phosphate cement-based composites based on machine learning

In order to optimize the mix ratio design of magnesium phosphate cementitious composites (MPCC) to obtain excellent workability and strength, this study investigated the effects of MgO-phosphate ratio, water-binder ratio, aggregate-binder ratio, the mass ratio of coarse and fine aggregates, mineral admixture content and steel fiber content on the flowability, setting time and cubic compressive strength (CCS) of MPCC using orthogonal design of experiments with a total of 32 sets of mix ratios. The experimental results were also analyzed utilizing range and variance analysis to determine the main influencing parameters and the optimal dosage of each factor, and the optimal MPCC mix ratio was obtained. In addition, the prediction of CCS for MPCC using five machine learning models was first introduced, and the predicted results were interpreted and analyzed regarding the SHAP (Shapley Additive exPlanations) features importance. The results showed that the effect of steel fiber volume content and water-binder ratio on the flowability was significant, and M/P significantly affected the setting time of MPCC. The CCS of MPCC increased with the age of curing, and MPCC exhibited high early strength, with 1-day CCS accounting for 55%～85% of the 28-day CCS. The effect of M/P on the 1-day, 3-day and 28-day CCS was highly significant, with M/P contribution rate as high as 76.3%, 80.3% and 83.6% of the CCS at 1, 3 and 28 days, respectively. Besides, the effect of steel fiber volume content on 28-day CCS was also significant. In summary, the optimal mix ratio of MPCC was A4B1C4D1E4F4G1 (M/P = 3, w/b=0.11, a/b=1.4, c/f=3, FA content =15%, MK content= 15%, steel fiber volume content= 0%). Furthermore, random forest (RF) and particle swarm optimization of back propagation artificial neural network (PSO-BP-ANN) models have a higher prediction accuracy, and the results of SHAP feature significance further confirmed the above test results.

SHOTCRETES AND MORTARS FOR 3D PRINTERS USING CHINESE INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Currently, ordinary Portland cement is the main cementing material for shotcrete in tunnels in my country. Part of the use of single-doped silica fume or fly ash, however, there are few cementitious materials that use double-doped or multi-doped mineral admixtures. Due to the single composition of the cementitious material, poor gradation, and low quality, the concrete has poor compactness, insufficient viscosity, and large rebound. The use of "multiple" mineral admixtures can better solve the problem of high rebound rate of shotcrete in tunnels. Among them, mineral admixtures include mineral powder, fly ash, silica fume and limestone powder. The cementitious material in concrete can be single-mixed, double-mixed or multi-mixed with mineral admixtures. In this way, the heat of hydration when the concrete sets and hardens can be reduced, reduce the cracking of concrete, improve the compactness and viscosity of concrete and reduce the rebound rate of concrete.
 The aim of research: the overall idea and technical measures to solve the high rebound rate of shotcrete or 3D printer mix and the high amount of cementitious materials using Chinese industrial waste.
 Scientific novelty of research: optimal compositions using Chinese industrial waste for wet shotcrete, optimal compositions using Chinese industrial waste for 3D construction printers, basic properties of wet shotcrete composites with using Chinese industrial waste, basic properties of 3D construction printer composites with using Chinese industrial waste.

Efficiency and Mechanism of Surface Reinforcement for Recycled Coarse Aggregates via Magnesium Phosphate Cement.

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) exhibits inferior mechanical and durability properties owing to the deterioration of the recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) surface quality. To improve the surface properties of RCA, the reinforcement efficiency of RAC, and the maneuverability of the surface treatment method, this study used magnesium phosphate cement (MPC), a clinker-free low-carbon cement with excellent bonding properties, to precoat RCA under three-day pre-conditioning. Moreover, variable amounts of fly ash (FA) or granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) were utilized to partly substitute MPC to enhance the compressive strength and chloride ion penetration resistance. Subsequently, FA-MPC and GBFS-MPC hybrid slurries with the best comprehensive performance were selected to coat the RCA for optimal reinforcement. The crushing value and water absorption of RCA, as well as the mechanical strengths and durability of RAC, were investigated, and microstructures around interfaces were studied via BSE-EDS and microhardness analysis to reveal the strengthening mechanism. The results indicated that the comprehensive property of strengthening paste was enhanced significantly through substituting MPC with 10% FA or GBFS. Surface coating resulted in a maximum reduction of 8.15% in the crushing value, while the water absorption barely changed. In addition, modified RAC outperformed untreated RAC regarding compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and chloride ion penetration resistance with maximum optimization efficiencies of 31.58%, 49.75%, and 43.11%, respectively. It was also evidenced that the improved MPC paste properties enhanced the performance of modified RAC. Microanalysis revealed that MPC pastes exhibited an excellent bond with RCA or new mortar, and the newly formed interfacial transition zone between MPC and the fresh mortar exhibited a dense microstructure and outstanding micro-mechanical properties supported with an increase in the average microhardness value of 30.2-33.4%. Therefore, MPC pastes incorporating an appropriate mineral admixture have enormous potential to be utilized as effective RCA surface treatment materials and improve the operability of RCA application in practice.

Study on accelerating activation of recycled hardened concrete powder based on microbial induced calcium precipitation

The CO2 atmosphere in the flue gas of cement kiln was simulated in this paper, and different methods were used to activate the RHCP with particle size < 75 µm under normal temperature and pressure. The effects of different activation methods were studied, and the mechanism of CO2 storage was clarified. On the basis of concrete carbonization curing, a new technology based on MICP was proposed. During the activation of RHCP, a Bacillus strain capable of secreting carbonic anhydrase was introduced into the CO2 carbonization system of RHCP. Carbonic anhydrase could accelerate the capture and conversion of CO2 into bicarbonate ions and carbonate ions. Calcite-type CaCO3 and amorphous silica gel were formed by the reaction of CO2 with active components in RHCP. Finally, the generated product filled the pores to make the microstructure of the slurry denser, and CO2 was also permanently sealed. The results showed that the MM-RHCP not only improved the activity index of the mortar, but also improved the potential for storing CO2 in RHCP. Through FT-IR, XRD, SEM-EDS, TGA and nitrogen adsorption pore size analysis, it was further proved that the use of microbial mineralized RHCP could accelerate the formation of CaCO3, ettringite and SiO2·n H2O. In addition, the CO2 storage capacity of MM-RHCP was greater than that of DC-RHCP and LP-RHCP. The RHCP after mineralization treatment could replace cement as mineral admixture, and this technology realized the resource utilization of solid waste. At the same time, CO2 was permanently fixed in RHCP. Therefore, it provided a new way for deep carbon sequestration in the cement industry.

Sustainable Utilization of Marble Dust and Rice Husk Ash as a Partial Substitute for Fine Aggregate in Concrete

A sustainable method for partially substituting fine aggregate in concrete with marble dust and rice husk ash is described. This approach focuses on the utilization of these materials to minimize environmental impact while maintaining the integrity of the concrete structure. In this study, the fine aggregate was partially substituted with marble dust and rice husk ash. Additionally, sisal fiber was incorporated as secondary reinforcement for concrete at percentages of cement by weight. Concrete has good compressive strength but is weak in tension and bending. Thus, sisal fibers were added to enhance the mechanical properties. Sisal fibers were included at 0.1% and 0.2% of cement weight for varying percentages of mineral admixture substitution. 30% of cement was replaced with mineral admixtures, with replacement levels of 0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 30% of marble dust and rice husk ash. The slump cone and compaction factor tests were performed on fresh concrete mixes to determine workability. Standard cubes, cylinders, and prisms were cast to evaluate the compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths of the hardened concrete. The results show that the replacement of cement with marble dust and rice husk ash with sisal fiber as an additional reinforcing material shows considerable improvement in tensile and flexural strength. The material properties and test results are presented graphically.

Different Mineral Admixtures in Roller Compacted Concrete

Different Mineral Admixtures in Roller Compacted Concrete

Regression Anaylsis for the Experimental Study on the Pullout Strength of Steel Fiber Self- Compacting Concrete

This article describes experimental research of the interfacial adhesion of triple blended steel fibre self-compacting concrete (TBSFSCC) and it varies depending on the percentage of steel fibre. In self-compacting concrete, mineral admixtures such as condensed silica fume and flyash are utilised as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs).the percentage of replacement of cement by condensed silica fume at 10 where as flyash at 20 respectively, to meet the SCC criteria stipulated by ACI. The embedment length of a steel bar with a diameter of 12mm was chosen to be 100mm in all of the standard specimens. Fe-415 steel rod is used in this research. The pull-out test in the universal testing machine is used to evaluate the bond strength of this triple blended Self-Compacting Concrete (TBSCC). Ordinary steel fibres are then added to the concrete volume at various percentages, such as 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8. The bond strength, slip, and the method of failure of each rebar were all noted in the test results. The comparison of these results clearly shows that the percentage of steel fibre contributes to the TBSCC bond strength, and conclusions are generated.

Effect of reactive coarse recycled aggregate with different expansion history on alkali silica reactivity and mechanical properties of new concrete

AbstractRecycled concrete aggregates (RCA) provide an environmentally friendly solution by reducing the depletion of natural resources. This study investigates the impact of the expansion history of RCA on its reactivity with alkalis in newly produced concrete. Parent concrete samples were collected from the RILEM AAR‐4 curing cabinet (60°C and &gt;90% RH) to produce coarse RCA with four different expansion levels (0.00%, 0.05%, 0.12%, and 0.20%). The results show that the expansion levels of the new concrete mixtures decreased as the ASR expansion history of parent concrete increased. The 20‐week compressive strength and elastic modulus of the reactive aggregate concrete containing no mineral admixture and exposed to AAR‐4 test conditions were lower than those of their water‐cured counterparts. However, no decrease was observed in the elastic modulus of concrete mixtures that showed an expansion level lower than 0.03% (the maximum expansion for nonreactive aggregate as recommended by the RILEM AAR‐4 standard).

Mechanical and durability performance of ternary blended calcined clay and pulverized granite mortar composites

ABSTRACT Partially replacing cement with pozzolans, apart from the enormous technical benefits, has been reported as an effective approach to reducing greenhouse gases emanating from cement production. Calcined clay and pulverised granite, in recent years, have been experimented individually for their use as filler or pozzolan in concrete to improve workability and compressive strength. This research includes study of the synergistic characteristics of these two mineral admixtures and their influence on the mechanical and durability properties of mortar. Cement was partially substituted with 5–20% by weight of the composite material to form a ternary blended cement composite. The compressive strengths of the ternary blended cements were evaluated at 3, 7, 28 and 90 days. Durability properties such as alkali silica reactivity (ASR), rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT) and performance of the blended cements in aggressive media have been discussed. Test results indicated that, blended cements containing 5% and 10% of the pozzolan recorded similar compressive strengths at 28 days and outperformed it by 2.4% and 0.6% respectively at 90 days. Beyond 10% replacement, compressive strengths declined. The ternary blended cements were found to be highly reactive, potentially causing ASR in concrete than the reference cement.

Effect of fly ash on compressive strength, carbonation and corrosion resistance of reinforced concrete: a systematic review

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study and analyze the effects of fly ash (FA) as a mineral admixture on compressive strength (CS), carbonation resistance and corrosion resistance of reinforced concrete (RC). In addition, the utilization of inexpensive and abundantly available FA as a cement replacement in concrete has several benefits including reduced OPC usage and elimination of the FA disposal problem. Design/methodology/approach Reinforcement corrosion and carbonation significantly affect the strength and durability of the RC structures. Also, the utilization of FA as green corrosion inhibitors, which are nontoxic and environmentally friendly alternatives. This review discusses the effects of FA on the mechanical characteristics of concrete. Also, this review analyzes the impact of FA as a partial replacement of cement in concrete and its effect on the depth of carbonation in concrete elements and the corrosion rate of embedded steel as well as the chemical composition and microstructure (X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy) of FA concrete were also reviewed. Findings This review provides a clear analysis of the available study, providing a thorough overview of the current state of knowledge on this topic. Regarding concrete CS, the findings indicate that the incorporation of FA often leads to a loss in early-age strength. However, as the curing period increased, the strength of fly ash concrete (FAC) increased with or even surpassed that of conventional concrete. Analysis of the accelerated carbonation test revealed that incorporating FA into the concrete mix led to a shallower carbonation depth and slower diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the concrete. Furthermore, the half-cell potential test shows that the inclusion of FA increases the durability of RC by slowing the rate of steel-reinforcement corrosion. Originality/value This systematic review analyzes a wide range of existing studies on the topic, providing a comprehensive overview of the research conducted so far. This review intends to critically assess the enhancements in mechanical and durability attributes (such as CS, carbonation and corrosion resistance) of FAC and FA-RC. This systematic review has practical implications for the construction and engineering industries. This can support engineers and designers in making informed decisions regarding the use of FA in concrete mixtures, considering both its benefits and potential drawbacks.