Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Concrete by Partially Replacing Cement with Silica Fume and Fine Aggregate with Copper Slag

Abstract: Copper slag is a by-product obtained during the matte smelting and refining of copper. Current options of management of this slag are recycling, recovering of metal, production of value added products and disposal in slag dumps or stockpiles. This paper presents the results of a study undertaken to investigate the feasibility of using copper slag as fine aggregates in concrete. The effects of replacing coarse aggregate by copper slag on the compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength performance of concrete containing different percentage of silica fume as a partial replacement of cement and Copper slag with fine aggregates. The silica fume in concrete is replaced accordingly with the percentage of 5%, 7.5%, 15%, 17.5% and 20% by weight of cement and 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% of -Copper slag is added by weight of fine aggregate. Concrete cubes, cylinders and beams are tested at the age of 3, 7 and 28 days of curing. Finally the strength performance of silica fume based copper slag concrete is compared with the performance of conventional concrete.

Keywords: silica fume, copper slag, compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength