Usage of industrial by-products to produce plain concrete elements

This paper describes the results of research aimed at studying the possible usage of bottom ash (BA) and granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) in production of plain concrete elements. Sufficient number of briquettes, paving blocks and kerbs specimens containing GBFS and BA as fine aggregate replacement were produced in laboratory. Then, some of tests were conducted for investigating durability and mechanical properties of these specimens. Unit weight, compression strength and freeze-thaw tests were conducted for briquette specimens. Compression strength, freeze-thaw, water absorption and surface abrasion tests were conducted for paving blocks. Surface abrasion and flexural tensile strength tests were conducted for kerb specimens. While compression strength was decreased slightly, durability characteristics such as resistance of freeze-thaw and abrasion were improved. The results showed that usage of partially fine aggregate of these industrial by-products has more beneficial effects on durability characteristics of plain concrete elements. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved