Experimental Investigations on Strength Properties of Concrete Made with Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregate by Steel Slag

IJEP 45(13): 1174-1180 : Vol. 45 Issue 13 (Conference 2025)

Full Text

T. Srinivas* and G. Vivek

Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology (GRIET), Department of Civil Engineering, Hyderabad – 500 090, Telangana, India

Abstract

Natural sand is obtained through illicit river mining, making its use in concrete production impractical and environmentally harmful. It is essential to seek alternative fine aggregates, such as steel slag, to replace natural fine aggregate in concrete. Reusing industrial waste, like steel slag—a byproduct of steel manufacturing—offers potential benefits over traditional fine aggregates and supports sustainability in construction industry. The experimental programme involved replacing fine aggregate in concrete mixes with steel slag at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80% and 100%. The performance of these mixes was evaluated based on workability and strength properties, including compressive, split tensile and flexural strength. Results indicated that higher replacement levels led to reduced workability and a slight decline in strength, but concrete with upto 50% steel slag showed improved strength characteristics. Ultimately, the findings suggest that steel slag can effectively replace some of the fine aggregate in concrete, offering cost savings and environmental benefits without compromising structural integrity.

Keywords

Steel slag, Fine aggregate, Strength properties, Industrial waste, Structural integrity

References

  1. Rashad, A.M. 2022. Behaviour of steel slag aggregate in mortar and concrete – A comprehensive overview. J. Building Eng., 53: 104536. DOI: 10.10 16/j.jobe.2022.104536.
  2. Qureshi, H.J., S.A. Alghamdi, A. Majdi, J. Ahmad, C. Rahmawati, W. Alattyih and A. Alzlfawi. 2025. Utilization of steel slag in concrete: A review on durability and microstructure analysis. Reviews Adv. Mater. Sci., 64(1): 20250086. DOI: 10.1515/rams-2025-0086.
  3. Kumar, P. and S. Shukla. 2023. Utilization of steel slag waste as construction material: A review. Mater. Today Proceedings. 78(1): 145-152. DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2023.01.015.
  4. IS 12269. 2013. Ordinary Portland cement (53 grade)— Specification. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
  5. IS 383. 2016. Coarse and fine aggregate for concrete— Specification. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
  6. IS 456. 2000. Plain and reinforced concrete. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
  7. IS 9103. 1999. Concrete admixtures— Specification. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
  8. IS 10262. 2019. Concrete mix proportioning— Guidelines. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
  9. Zadeh, A.A., E. Rahmani, A. Karimipour, M. Dehghan and F. Aslani. 2025. Steel slag as sand replacement in concrete: A systematic review of fresh, mechanical and durability properties. Adv. Civil Eng., 2025: 3901578. DOI: 10.1155/adce/3901578.
  10. Tangadagi, R., M. Manjunatha and B.R. Ramesh. 2020. Utilization of steel slag as an eco-friendly material in concrete for construction. J. Green Eng., 10(5): 2408–2419.
  11. IS 1199. 1959. Methods of sampling and analysis of concrete. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
  12. IS 5816. 1999. Splitting tensile strength of concrete— Method of test. Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
  13. Qureshi, H.J., et al. 2025. Utilization of steel slag in concrete: A review on durability and microstructure analysis. Reviews Adv. Mater. Sci., 64: 2025 0086. DOI: 10.1515/rams-2025-0086.
  14. Guo, T., et al. 2025. Performance analysis of geo-polymer-carbon fiber stabilized steel slag base layer. Polymer Testing. 146(Sup1): 108766. DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108766.
  15. Zadeh, A.A., et al. 2025. Steel slag as sand replacement in concrete: A systematic review of fresh, mechanical and durability properties. Adv. Civil Eng., 2025: 3901578. DOI: 10.1155/adce/3901578.
  16. Tang, W., et al. 2024. Utilization of carbonated steel slag as fine sand in OPC concrete and mortar. Results Eng., 25: 103716. DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.202 4.103716.
  17. Fisher, L.V. and A.R. Barron. 2021. Suitability of steel making slag as a construction material resource. Recent Progress Mater., 3(3): 028. DOI: 10.21926/rpm.2103028.
  18. Kumar, P. and S. Shukla. 2023. Utilization of steel slag waste as construction material: A review. Mater. Today: Proceedings. 78(Part 1): 145-152. DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2023.01.015.
  19. Lai, M.H., et al. 2023. Enhancing the post-fire behaviour of steel slag normal-strength concrete by adding SCM. Const. Building Mater., 398: 132336. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.1323 36.
  20. Rashad, A.M. 2021. Behaviour of steel slag aggregate in mortar and concrete – A comprehensive overview. J. Building Eng., 53: 104536. DOI: 10.10 16/j.jobe.2022.104536.
  21. Gencel, O., et al. 2023. Steel slag and its applications in cement and concrete technology: A review. Const. Building Mater., 283(2021): 122783. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122783.
  22. Martins, A.C.P., et al. 2021. Steel slags in cement-based composites: An ultimate review on characterization, applications and performance. Const. Building Mater., 291: 123265. DOI: 10.10 16/j.conbuildmat.2021.123265.
  23. Tangadagi, R., et al. 2020. Utilization of steel slag as an eco-friendly material in concrete for construction. J. Green Eng., 10(5): 2408-2419.
  24. Liu, J., B. Yu and Q. Wang. 2020. Application of steel slag in cement treated aggregate base course. J. Clean. Prod., 269: 121733. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121733.
  25. Dubey, S., A. Singh and S.S. Kushwah. Utilization of iron and steel slag in building construction. AIP Conf. Proceedings. 2158(1): 020032. DOI: 10.106 3/1.5127156.
  26. Teixeira, J.E.S.L., et al. 2019. Expansion level of steel slag aggregate effects on both material properties and asphalt mixture performance. Transportation Res. Record J. Transportation Res. Board 2673(3): 036119811983551. DOI: 10.1177/0361 198119835513.
  27. Wanga, X., et al. 2019. Carbonation of steel slag and gypsum for building materials and associated reaction mech. Cement Concrete Res., 125 (2019): 105893.
  28. Dhoble, Y.N. and S. Ahmed.2018. Review on the innovative uses of steel slag for waste minimization. Mater. Cycles Waste Manage., 20: 1373–1382. DOI: 10.1007/s10163-018-0711-z.
  29. Saly, F., et al. 2020. Properties of steel slag and stainless steel slag as cement replacement materials: A comparative study. J. Wuhan University Tech. Mater. Sci. Edn., 33(6): 1444-1451. DOI: 10. 1007/s11595-018-1989-3.
  30. Jiang, Y., et al. 2018. Characteristics of steel slags and their use in cement and concrete—A review. Resour. Conserv. Recycling. 136: 187-197. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.04.023.
  31. Yu, X., et al. 2026. Performance of concrete made with steel slag and waste glass. Const. Building Mater., 114: 737-746. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.03.217.
  32. Salman, M., et al. 2016. Construction materials from stainless steel slags: Technical aspects, environmental benefits and economic opportunities. J. Ind. Ecol., 20(4): 854-866. DOI: 10.1111/ jiec.12314.
  33. Roslana, N.H., et al. 2015. Performance of steel slag and steel sludge in concrete. Const. Building Mater., 104(2016): 16–24. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.008.
  34. Pang, B., Zhou, Z. and Xu, H. 2015. Utilization of carbonated and granulated steel slag aggregate in concrete. Const. Building Mater., 84(2015): 454–467. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.03. 008.
  35. Devia, V.S. and B. K. Gnanavel. 2014. Properties of concrete manufactured using steel slag. Procedia Eng., 97(2014): 95-104.
  36. Qasrawi, H. 2014. The use of steel slag aggregate to enhance the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete and retain the environment. Const. Building Mater., 54: 293-304. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.12.063.
  37. Oluwasola, E.A., M.S. Hainina and M.M.A. Aziz. 2014. Characteristics and utilization of steel slag in road construction. J. Tech., 70(7). DOI: 10.11113/jt.v70.3591.
  38. Yi, H., et al. 2012. An overview of utilization of steel slag. Procedia Env. Sci., 16(2012): 791-801. DOI: 10.1016/j.proenv.2012.10.108.
  39. Netinger, I., D. Bjegovic and G. Vrhovac. 2011. Utilisation of steel slag as an aggregate in concrete. Mater. Struct., 44: 1565–1575. DOI: 10.1617/s11 527-011-9719-8
  40. Chunlin, L., Z. Kunpeng and C. Depeng. 2011. Possibility of concrete prepared with steel slag as fine and coarse aggregates: A preliminary study. Procedia Eng., 24: 412-416.
  41. Sofilic, T., et al. 2010. Steel slag instead natural aggregate in asphalt mixture. Arch. Metallurgy Mater., 55(3): 657-668.
  42. Tsakiridis, P.E., et al. 2002. Utilization of steel slag for Portland cement clinker production. J. Hazard. Mater., 153(2): 805-811. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.07.093.
  43. Farrand, B. and J. Emery. 1995. Recent improvements in quality of steel slag aggregate. Transportation Res. Record. 1486: 137-141.