Suitability study of processed granulated blast furnace slag (PGBS) as fine aggregate replacement in mortar exposed to the marine environment

Abstract

With the increasing demand for infrastructures and other buildings in all over the world the demand for natural sand as fine aggregates is growing. Various parts of the world are facing an acute shortage of natural aggregate. Despite that, every year, millions of tons of industrial waste are being produced and dumped, which is a good alternative for natural aggregate. This paper is mainly about the partial replacement of advanced and processed form of GBS (generated in steel plants) call as PGBS (Processed Granulated Blast Furnace Slag) which has similar properties as natural sand, as fine aggregate (FA) and to find out the effects on mortar mixes exposed to the marine environment. Mortar cubes and prisms were prepared with the following percentages of PGBS (10%, 30%, 50%) compared to normal mixes (0%). The specimens were exposed to the marine environment and normal water conditions. Harden properties like compressive strength and drying shrinkage of mortar were observed for 7, 14, 28 and 90 days. The study mainly focused on drying shrinkage, which is a significant issue in today's concrete industries. The study finds out that drying shrinkage and compressive strength properties of mortar improved by an increase in the percentage of PGBS and recommends suitable use of PGBS in mortar mixes. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.