Lightweight Self-Compacting Concrete Incorporating Industrial Rejects and Mineral Admixtures: Strength and Durability Assessment

By the recent global research developments, a lot of natural and artificial materials that are normally discarded and landfilled, are continually investigated for potential construction applications. In this study, the mechanical and durability properties of lightweight self-compacting concrete produced using pumice, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), rice husk ash (RHA) and precipitated silica, was investigated. A detailed experimental design was performed, which entailed reducing the water powder ratio, and use of viscosity modifying admixture, for enhancing the fresh SCC quality. The experimental process involved assessment of mechanical and durability properties of concrete mixtures. The results have shown that compressive and flexural strength of SCC made with lightweight aggregate are improved using mineral blended cement. Also, same mix, but with pumice as coarse aggregate gave higher split-tensile strength than other mixtures. This study deduced that pozzolanic reactivity and filler action of supplementary cementitious materials used, enhanced the resistance of the mixtures to deterioration when exposed to aggressive environment.