Evaluation of mechanical properties of steel slag as replacement for fine and coarse aggregate in concrete

Steel slag is a melted by-product that mainly consists of calcium carbonate and metal oxides generated in the process of steel manufacturing. The main objectives of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of steel slags as fine and coarse aggregates in concrete and to determine the optimum quantity of steel slag as fine and coarse aggregates to enhance the strength of concrete. Concrete cubes were cast by mixing steel slag as replacement (i.e. 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) for fine and coarse aggregate, separately. Abrasion test, sieve analysis, water absorption and specific gravity test were conducted to determine the properties of raw materials. Unit weight, workability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and the possibility of corrosion were experimentally evaluated to determine the effectiveness of steel slag. It is found that 75% steel slag mixed concrete indicates improvements in compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and unit weight, respectively. Further, it was noted that steel slag aggregates were not corroded after conducting the Accelerated Corrosion Test Method (ACTM). Therefore, the use of steel slag as fine and coarse aggregates for concrete would improve the mechanical properties of concrete and reduce the adverse environmental impact.