Replacement Of River Sand Research Articles

A Novel Approach to High-Volume Replacement of River Sand by Waste Pond Ash in Cement Mortar Using Multicriteria Models: Engineering Properties, Sustainability Aspects, and Cost

A Novel Approach to High-Volume Replacement of River Sand by Waste Pond Ash in Cement Mortar Using Multicriteria Models: Engineering Properties, Sustainability Aspects, and Cost

Lightweight aggregates produced from low-temperature sintering of multiple solid wastes for heavy metals removal: Adsorption kinetics and stabilization

Solid wastes, including incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA), waste bentonite, and waste glass powder (WGP), were recycled and sintered at a low temperature (680°C) to produce lightweight aggregates (WSA). WGP acted as a fluxing agent to significantly lower sintering temperature of 1000-1200°C in other studies. WSA demonstrated an excellent mechanical strength of 3.76 MPa. The adsorbent dosage, initial pH, kinetics and isotherm on heavy metals adsorption were evaluated in batch adsorption experiments. The isothermal data exhibited a good correlation with the Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was approximately 9.26 mg/g at 296 K. Pb(II) removal was dominated by precipitation and cation exchange. Breakthrough curves were determined for fixed-bed adsorption. At 50% breakthrough, the maximum adsorption capacity was 1.82 mg/g. The WSA after heavy metals adsorption were then reused to replace river sand (10-50%) in producing lightweight mortars. The solidification of spent WSA in the lightweight mortars could significantly reduce the leaching of Pb(II) by 98.5%. Moreover, the reuse of spent WSA resulted in low density and low thermal conductivity of cement mortars. This study demonstrates total waste management for municipal solid wastes: upcycling of waste–utilization–permanently stored as construction materials.

Comparative Analysis of the Strength of Concretes Made from Different Aggregates

The paper aimed to explore the replacement of river sand in concrete with iron fillings and sawdust at various percentages (10%, 20%, and 30%). The study used a 1:2:4 mix design and a water-cement ratio of 0.5. Wooden square cubes of dimensions 100 x 100 x 100 mm were employed, resulting in 42 concrete cubes. Tests were conducted to assess particle size distribution, specific gravity, bulk density, aggregate impact value, aggregate abrasion value, and compressive strength at 7th and 28th days of curing. Notably, after 7 days, compressive strength results showed that concrete with a 10% iron fillings replacement (18.5 N/mm²) had a higher average strength than concrete with 100% river sand (17.6 N/mm²). However, as the percentage of iron fillings increased to 20% (9.8 N/mm²) and 30% (7.1N/mm²), the compressive strength decreased. On the other hand, concrete with sawdust replacements at 10% (3.7 N/mm²), 20% (1.4 N/mm²), and 30% (0.5 N/mm²) exhibited significantly lower load-bearing capacity. These trends persisted at the 28th day, with the compressive strength decreasing with increasing percentages of iron fillings (10%: 20.3 N/mm², 20%: 11.2 N/mm², 30%: 11.6 N/mm²) and sawdust (10%: 3.4 N/mm², 20%: 2.3 N/mm², 30%: 1.4 N/mm²). The findings suggest that a low percentage of iron fillings can be used in combination with river sand to maintain load-bearing capacity, but sawdust or wood particles should be avoided as they adversely affect compressive strength. This research contributes valuable insights into the use of these materials in concrete mixtures.

Sustainable utilization of basalt waste dust as replacement of river sand in one‐part geopolymer mortar

AbstractWith growing environmental concerns due to the excessive use of natural river sand in construction, finding sustainable alternatives is crucial. This study explores the potential of basalt waste dust, a by‐product of basalt rock crushing, as a replacement for river sand in one‐part geopolymer mortar. The experimental program is segmented into three series: replacing river sand with basalt waste dust at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%; adjusting the activator‐to‐binder ratio as 0.12, 0.15, 0.18, and 0.21; and modifying the aggregate‐to‐binder ratios (1, 1.4, 1.8, and 2.2). Results are discussed using various test results such as fresh property, hardened property, and microstructural property to provide a detailed analysis of mixture properties. Findings in series 1 reveal that replacing 50% of river sand with basalt waste dust optimally enhances the fresh and hardened properties of geopolymer mortar. In series 2, the varying activator‐to‐binder ratio with optimum replacement from series 1, activator‐to‐binder ratio 0.15, was found to be optimal, improving hardened properties. Further opting for this ratio in series 3 and increasing the aggregate‐to‐binder ratio to 2.2 was found to positively impact both the hardened and microstructural properties of one‐part geopolymer mortar. This study demonstrated that basalt waste dust plays a crucial role in these improvements and emphasizes the necessity of optimizing mix proportions to achieve superior performance, establishing basalt waste dust as a viable and sustainable alternative to river sand.

Effects of Volcanic Tuff Use on the Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete

The rise in demand of concrete products has led to overexploitation of river sand the main fine aggregate in concrete resulting in major environmental degradation. As a result, researchers have focused their efforts on developing eco-friendly concrete using alternative renewable materials like volcanic tuff and other natural pozzolana types. This study therefore, aims at investigating the use of Kenyan, Kitengela volcanic tuff as a partial replacement of river sand in self-compacting concrete, and determining the effects it will have on the rheological and mechanical properties of the self-compacting concrete. The study involved partially replacing river sand with volcanic tuff in percentages of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% and carrying out rheological tests (V-funnel test, L-box test, T-500 test and J-ring test) on fresh concrete and mechanical tests (compressive strength and tensile strength tests) on hardened self-compacting concrete on days 7, 14, and 28 to determine the effects of volcanic tuff on properties of both fresh and hardened self-compacting concrete. There was a general decrease in rheological properties (flow and passing abilities) of self-compacting concrete with increase in volcanic tuff percentage replacement from 0 % to 10%, with least flow and passing abilities recorded at 10% replacement. Similarly, increase in volcanic tuff percentage replacement led to decrease in both compressive and tensile strength of self-compacting concrete with lowest values recorded at 10% volcanic tuff replacement.

Assessment of Cement Mortar Strength Mixed with Waste Copper Mine Tailings (CT) by Applying Gradient Boosting Regressor and Grid Search Optimization Machine Learning Approach

Growing environmental concerns and resource scarcity, the construction industry must investigate sustainable materials that reduce waste while improving building material properties. This study investigates the viability of using waste copper mine tailings (CT) as a partial replacement for river sand in cement mortar, assessing the impact on mechanical strength and developing a predictive model using a Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR) and Grid Search Optimization (GSO). Copper tailings mix designs ranging from 0% to 50% replacement by volume (river sand) were developed, with a constant cement quantity while varying the proportions of sand and tailings. The experiments were carried out at Poornima University in Jaipur, using standard protocols to prepare specimens and measure their compressive strength for 0% CT to 50% CT as volume percent in the mixture. The results showed that the addition of copper tailings up to 20% (3CT2) had highly increased the mortar strength, while mix design 6CT3 showed the best strength at 30% CT. Beyond this threshold, strength declined, thus indicating an optimal replacement level. In the final step of the research, the GBR-GSO-based machine learning approach was employed for developing the predictive model for compressive strength in mortar with different contents of copper tailing for mix types 3CT and 6CT. The predictions obtained by the developed model were in very good agreement with empirical data, thus supporting the potential of machine learning to predict material performance for guiding the use of unconventional additives in construction. It could be said that this work not only represents the material properties of copper-tailing-infused mortar but also showcases state-of-the-art machine learning techniques in the building materials science domain while opening new paths for more innovative and sustainable building practices.

Evaluation of Mechanical, Ecological, Economical, and Thermal Characteristics of Geopolymer Concrete Containing Processed Slag Sand

This manuscript highlights the mechanical, economical, ecological, and thermal investigations performed on paving quality geopolymer concrete (PQGC) incorporating processed steel slag (PSS) as a substitute for river sand (RSa). The replacement of RSa with PSS ranged from 0 to 100% in the PQGC mix. The mix with 100% PSS content exhibited enhanced geopolymerization, resulting in a denser and more amorphous matrix. This improved the mechanical properties, increasing compressive strength by 10.9%, flexural strength by 23.5%, and splitting tensile strength by 8.3%. The replacement of RSa with PSS in PQGC led to a marginal reduction in (embodied energy) EE and CO2 emissions. However, compared to conventional Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) and Fly Ash PQC (FPQC), the reduction in EE for PQGC was 44% and 34%, while the CO2 emissions of PQGC were reduced by 1.22 and 1.49 times. Despite these benefits, PQGC with 100% PSS was 19% and 30% more expensive than PQC and FPQC, respectively. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of PQGC was approximately one-third that of PQC and FPQC at all levels of replacement of RSa in PQGC when compared to PQC and FPQC. Additionally, thermal conductivity decreased from k = 0.67 W/m °C to k = 0.51 W/m °C with 100% replacement of RSa, keeping the concrete cooler. Therefore, PQGC with 100% PSS, when practically implemented, may help reduce surrounding temperatures. This study concludes that PSS is a feasible and reliable alternative to RSa, enhancing the sustainability of PQGC.

Natural Rubber Latex-Modified Concrete with Bottom Ash for Sustainable Rigid Pavements

This article investigates the viability of using natural rubber latex (NRL)-modified concrete with bottom ash (BA) as a partial replacement for river sand in sustainable rigid pavements. Concrete mixes with 10% and 20% BA replacement ratios and varying NRL dosages (0%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% by weight of cement) were prepared and evaluated for their mechanical and microstructural characteristics. Results showed that BA substitution decreased the compressive strength of concrete. However, the addition of NRL at an optimal dosage of 1.0% significantly improved both the compressive and flexural strengths. The 10%BA+1.0%NRL and 20%BA+1.0%NRL mixes exhibited mechanical properties surpassing the control mix and meeting the minimum requirements for rigid pavement materials. However, excessive NRL content (1.5% and 2.0%) led to a reduction in mechanical strength. Scanning electron microscopy analysis exhibited a denser and more compact matrix in NRL-modified BA concrete, with NRL films enhancing the interfacial bonding and crack-bridging mechanism. Nonetheless, excessive NRL content resulted in the formation of abundant and thicker NRL films, which disrupted the continuity of the cement matrix and created weak zones. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the existence of crucial crystalline phases and their optimal balance in the 20%BA+1.0%NRL mix, contributing to its superior performance. Mixes with excessive NRL contents exhibited lower intensities of quartz, calcite, and portlandite peaks, indicating a disturbance in the proper formation and growth of essential crystalline phases. The findings demonstrated the potential of NRL-modified BA concrete as an eco-friendly and high-performance alternative for sustainable rigid pavements when using an optimal NRL dosage, promoting the employment of waste resources and reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-08-05 Full Text: PDF

Experimental Study on the Sustainable Use of Quarry Sand in Sand Concrete Production

This study investigates the impact of incorporating quarry sand into concrete mixes, focusing on its characteristics and environmental sustainability. Three concrete specimens were prepared with varying proportions of quarry sand (10%, 20%, and 30%). The study evaluates the flexural strength, compressive strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity of each specimen. Results indicate a notable enhancement in performance with the addition of quarry sand. Optimal characteristics were observed in the specimen containing 30% quarry sand. This suggests the viability of utilizing quarry sand as a partial replacement for river sand in concrete production, promoting sustainable practices in construction materials.

Comparison of the Use of Excavated Soil Recycled Fine Aggregate as a Substitute for River Sand in Mortar Mixing

This study comparatively investigated the performance of mortar prepared using excavated soil recycled fine aggregate (ESRFA), which mainly included fine aggregate obtained by sediment separation equipment and sieving. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyse the size and shape of ESRFA particles. The particle size distribution of ESRFA was uneven and its sphericality was lower than that of river sand. Two series of rendering mortar mixes were prepared using identical water/cement and aggregate/cement ratios of 0.55 and 3, respectively, using river sand as fine aggregate. ESRFA was used to replace 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% of the river sand in each mixture. The experimental results showed that the flowability of the mortar prepared with ESRFA was lower than that of the aggregate-based mortar, but the porosity, water absorption, and mechanical properties (compressive strength, flexural strength, and drying shrinkage) increased and then decreased upon increasing the ESRFA content. In conclusion, ESRFA shows potential as a partial replacement for river sand in mortar, particularly at lower substitution rates. Further research is needed to optimize the processing and application of ESRFA in concrete to enhance its performance and sustainability.

Durability and microstructural characteristics of self-compacting concrete incorporating M-sand

ABSTRACT Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is characterized by increased fluidity and enhanced cohesion, leading to its growing prominence within the construction sector. Additive materials such as alccofine and silica fume can enhance the properties of SCC while concurrently mitigating the ecological footprint linked to cement manufacturing. Manufactured sand, also known as M-sand, is finely crushed aggregate sourced from rocks or quarry stones, providing a sustainable substitute for natural river sand in construction. The primary emphasis of this study revolves around evaluating the enduring compressive strength and durability attributes of SCC, wherein M-sand is employed to replace river sand to varying percentages of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Durability assessments encompass evaluations at 28, 56, 90, 180, and 365 days for water absorption, Rapid Chloride Penetration Test (RCPT), sorptivity, and Volume of Permeable Voids (VPV), all compared against the benchmarks of control concrete. Microstructural characterization studies entail the utilization of techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscope imagery (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). From the results it is observed that M-sand replacement in SCC enhanced durability of the concrete.

Sustainable use of waste glass sand and waste glass powder in alkali-activated slag foam concretes: Physico-mechanical, thermal insulation and durability characteristics

In many countries, the safe removal of the massive volume of waste glass has emerged as a major environmental priority. However, the manufacture of concrete pollutes the environment with greenhouse gasses and consumes vast amounts of natural resources. As a result, the construction industry has recently been paying more and more attention to reusing glass waste to produce environmentally friendly building materials. This work aims to manufacture environmentally friendly alkali-activated foam concrete (AAFC) by examining the combined effects of waste glass powder (GP) and waste glass sand (GS) as partial substitutes for granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) and river sand (RS) respectively. The present study involved the experimentation of AAFC mixtures with GP contents of 0 and 10 % as a replacement for GBFS and GS contents of 0, 25, 50 and 100 % as a replacement for RS. Eight AAFC mixtures with fixed alkaline solution-to-binder (A/B) ratio of 0.5 were fabricated and cured at 80 °C for 24 h. The effects of different GS and GP contents on the oven dry density, flowability, water absorption, porosity, sorptivity, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, flexural strength, high temperature resistance and hydrochloric acid (HCI) resistance of AAFC mixtures were evaluated. Microstructure of the mixtures was analyzed by SEM and EDS. The findings indicated that the AAFC mixture with 50 % GS exhibited the best mechanical properties with a compressive strength of 3.48 MPa, representing a 71.4 % increase over the reference mixture. The mixture with 50 %GS also exhibited the lowest sorptivity regardless of GP content. Thermal conductivity enhanced by 4.6 and 7.0 % by replacing RS with 50 % GS at 0 and 10 % GP content. Replacing RS with GS and GBFS with GP increased the high temperature and acid resistance of the AAFC mixtures and the best high temperature and acid resistance were obtained for the mixtures containing 100 %GS and 10 %GP.

Improving passing ability of ultra-heavy-weight concrete by optimising its packing structure

Heavy-weight concrete (HWC) is a widely adopted radiation shielding material in the nuclear industry. In this study, two kinds of high-density aggregate, namely, iron sand (IS) and steel slag coarse aggregate (SSCA), were adopted to fully replace river sand and natural coarse aggregate, respectively, producing ultra-heavy-weight concrete (UHWC) with a unit weight >3800 kg/m3, to ensure excellent radiation shielding performance. However, IS and SSCA seriously impaired the passing ability of UHWC as the cement paste could not hold the IS and SSCA as firmly as natural aggregates, owing to their high density. To overcome this, the rheology of UHWC should be optimised by partially replacing the cement with superfine silica fume (SSF) and using a suitable amount of superplasticiser (SP) to enhance the wet packing density (WPD). A total of 28 UHWC mixes with different replacement ratios of SSF and different SP dosages were tested for segregation width, flowability, L-box passing ability, unit weight and WPD. Results revealed that incorporating an appropriate quantity of SSF and SP improved the WPD of UHWC, resulting in improved segregation resistance, enhanced flowability, increased passing ability and a higher unit weight. Lastly, there is a positive correlation between flowability, passing ability and WPD.

Influence of molybdenum tailings replacing river sand on mechanical properties and concrete microstructure

Many tailings are piled up, occupying land and polluting the environment. Tailings replace river sand to prepare concrete. It can reduce the tailings stockpile and slow the consumption of non-renewable resources. This study discussed the feasibility of molybdenum tailings (MTs) replacing river sand in preparing concrete. Firstly, the influence of the MTs addition amount on concrete strength was analyzed. Secondly, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TG-DTG), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to characterize the microscopic characteristics of concrete with different MTs contents. The results showed that good gradation of fine aggregate could improve the strength of concrete. The optimum replacement rate of MTs was 20 %, and the 28-day compressive strength and tensile strength of concrete increased by 10.9 % and 14.9 %, respectively, compared with the control group. It cannot be considered that the greater the total porosity, the greater the strength of concrete, which was mainly determined by the proportion of pores with different pore sizes in the total pores. When the amount of MTs added was 20 %, the MTs played a role in dilution, promoting cement hydration. The hydration products can not only effectively fill the internal pores of the concrete but also improve the bond strength between the tailings and the hardened slurry, thus improving the strength of the concrete. When the content of tailings added was 50 % and 100 %, cement hydration was blocked, increasing concrete porosity, and the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) became looser, thus weakening the strength of concrete.

Research to evaluate the possibility of using sea sand to make roller compacted concrete as a surface layer for rural roads

In this period of very scarce river sand resources for construction activities, the use of sea sand and salt-contaminated sand to replace river sand in roller-compacted concrete is necessary and suitable to the needs of actual demand. This article presents some research results on the possibility of using the sea sand of "Can Gio" to produce roller-compacted concrete for rural road surface layers. The roller-compacted concrete mix composition is designed according to ACI 211.3R standards with a fly ash-to-cement ratio by volume of 0.3. The required compressive strength value of the roller-compacted concrete sample is 27 MPa at the age of 28 days. The technical requirements of roller-compacted concrete using sea sand have been evaluated including the hardness of the concrete mixture, compressive strength, and abrasion resistance of tested concrete, using the ratio of sea sand- aggregate by volume ranges from 0.41 to 0.50. The study also compared the physical properties of "Can Gio" sea sand according to the technical requirements of standard TCVN 13754:2023 to provide recommendations when using salt-contaminated sand and sea sand for roller compacted concrete mixture.

Utilization of Bituminous Sand in the Production of Eco-friendly Sandcrete for Sustainable Construction

Sandcrete is a construction material composed of cement, fine aggregate, and water. The constituent materials are in great demand due to their use in various buildings. The increasing demand in turn has led to astronomical increases in the cost of procuring these materials thereby making it very difficult to meet the shelter provision requirement of the teeming population of a country such as Nigeria. There have been various attempts to address this issue by substituting different materials for river sand in the production of sandcrete, either entirely or in part, one such material which is used in this research is bituminous sand. Bituminous sands are composed of sands, heavy oil and clay that are rich in mineral and water. Ordinary Portland cement was mixed with both river sand (as control) and bituminous sand in 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 100% replacement levels. Seventy-two sandcrete cubes were cast in all for this study and tested for compressive strength. From the investigation, the samples compressive strengths increased with increase in curing age and decreased with increase in percentage replacement though at a different rate with the sample containing 0% bituminous sand and 100% river sand denoted SC0,100 gaining the highest strength of 8.59N/mm2 at the 28th day of curing. The SC10,90, SC20,80, SC30,70 and SC40,60 attained 98.5%, 50%, 42.3% and 3.5% more strength compared to the design strength at 28th day of curing, respectively. While the SC100,0 attained 43.5% lower strength compared to the design strength at 28th day of curing. This research has revealed the possibility of using bituminous sand for developing eco-friendly sandcrete for construction purposes for up to 0-40% river sand replacement with bituminous sand.

Effect of mix dosage on rubberized concrete mechanical performance: A multivariable prediction model towards design provisions

The accumulation of end-of-life tires generates significant environmental/economic/social problems worldwide; however, these tires can potentially be used in engineering applications when recycled as crumb rubber (CR). One possibility is to use CR as a replacement for river sand in concrete to reduce the disposal of CR and the use of sand as well as to improve some of concrete’s properties, such as thermal performance and carbon footprint at the expense of some compressive strength reduction. In this study, a novel and simple multivariable model was developed to predict the compressive strength reduction of rubberized concrete (RC) based on a dataset of 287 concrete mixtures from 38 different studies. The approach used in this study quantified the significance of the impact of 10 mix design variables on the evaluation of compressive strength reduction. The final model proposed in this paper considers six explanatory variables (i.e., volume replacement of sand by CR, CR quantity, fine aggregate quantity, coarse aggregate quantity, cement quantity, and water quantity) to predict the compressive strength reduction in which a logarithmic transformation was implemented to achieve a more precise model. The proposed model reached a coefficient of determination of 0.89, significantly better than other existing models with which the proposed model was compared, resulting in a highly accurate and yet easy-to-implement model. Finally, practical design considerations were provided to be used in concrete mix design or the design of minor structural elements.

Disposal of solid waste as building materials: A study on the mechanical and durability performance of concrete composed of gold tailings

The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of gold tailings as an alternative to natural river sand for preparing concrete, to solve the problems of rapid increase in gold tailings and insufficient natural river sand stock. Additionally, gold tailings upgraded by centrifugal separation are compared with untreated gold tailings. The performances and modification mechanisms of gold tailings on the mechanical strength and durability performance of concrete were investigated. The results demonstrate that concrete composed of gold tailings exhibits commendable mechanical and durability properties, with the optimal replacement level of natural river sand being 30%. Replacing river sand with gold tailings enhances the compressive and split tensile strengths of concrete, reduces water absorption, and improves its resistance to freeze-thaw cycles and chloride ion permeability, primarily owing to the pozzolanic activity and filling effect of the gold tailings. The upgrading of gold tailings not only changed altered the particle size but also changed the active SiO2 and Al2O3 content, thus, further enhancing the mechanical and durability of concrete. The study establishes that utilizing gold tailings in construction can serve as a viable substitute for river sand, thereby mitigating potential environmental repercussions associated with gold tailings. The findings hold promise for diminishing the reliance on river sand, thereby markedly enhancing resource sustainability.

Extraction of sand from the complex matrix of coal mining dump waste: A sustainable approach in Indian context

Dump waste generated by open cast coal mining industry is a significant global source of environmental pollution, land degradation and possesses threats to the environmental sustainability. After conducting pilot study, experimental investigations were conducted to study the reuse of waste rocks coming from mining as fine aggregates as a possible replacement of river sand. Physical, chemical and mechanical tests have been carried out in order to analyze in detail the interaction whether extracted sand is suitable in construction sector or not. The present study focuses on utilizing the overburden of the Sasti open cast coal mine of Western Coal Limited in the Chandrapur District of Maharashtra state, India for extraction of sand. Extracted sand contains minerals mainly quartz, alumina, and satisfies the prescribed permissible limit as per the Indian coal provisions for its use in construction work and observed to be equivalent to river sand. The compressive strength obtained with extracted OB sand after 28 days of curing was 29.294 MPa as compared to 33.153 MPa for the river sand for M25 grade of concrete. The focus of the study is on the reclaimed sand and its possible usages and not on the other components like clay of dump waste.

Performance Assessment of BOF steel slag as fine aggregate in the development of fly ash based geopolymeric mortar

ABSTRACT This study focused on the partial replacement of river sand in fly ash-based geopolymeric mortar with Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) steel slag fine aggregate. The research aimed to create eco-friendly geopolymeric mortar using fly ash, steel slag and an alkaline solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. Physical testing against flowability, bulk density and water absorption has been conducted, and mechanical behaviour against compressive and flexural strength has also been investigated. However, the raw material and developed mortar have been characterised using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for morphological studies, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for mineralogical studies. Geopolymer mortar with 30% steel slag replacing river sand (30SSM) showed the highest strength, reaching 35MPa in compression and 5.6MPa in flexure. This strength can be attributed to the strong and flexible (ductile) characteristics of steel slag when combined with the geopolymeric paste. Additionally, the angular and rough surface texture of steel slag enhances the physical bonding within the matrix. This high-volume fly ash (cement-free) based steel slag aggregate geopolymeric mortar offers a sustainable option for various building components like paver blocks, bricks etc.