Suitability of Scoria as Fine Aggregate and Its Effect on the Properties of Concrete

Getachew Kebede Warati, Muge Mukaddes Darwish, Fekadu Fufa Feyessa and Tewodros Ghebrab
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Getachew Kebede Warati: Civil Engineering department, Jimma University Institute of Technology, Jimma-Ethiopia, P.O. Box 378, Ethiopia
Muge Mukaddes Darwish: Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1023, USA
Fekadu Fufa Feyessa: Environmental Engineering Department, Jimma University Institute of Technology, Jimma-Ethiopia, P.O. Box 378, Ethiopia
Tewodros Ghebrab: Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1023, USA

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 17, 1-15

Abstract: The increase in the demand for concrete production for the development of infrastructures in developing countries like Ethiopia leads to the depletion of virgin aggregates and high cement demand, which imposes negative environmental impacts. In sustainable development, there is a need for construction materials to focus on the economy, efficient energy utilization, and environmental protections. One of the strategies in green concrete production is the use of locally available construction materials. Scoria is widely available around the central towns of Ethiopia, especially around the rift valley regions where huge construction activities are taking place. The aim of this paper is therefore to analyze the suitability of scoria as a fine aggregate for concrete production and its effect on the properties of concrete. A differing ratio of scoria was considered as a partial replacement of fine aggregate with river sand after analyzing its engineering properties, and its effect on the mechanical properties of concrete were examined. The test results on the engineering properties of scoria revealed that the material is suitable to be used as a fine aggregate in concrete production. The replacement of scoria with river sand also enhanced the mechanical strength of the concrete. Generally, the findings of the experimental study showed that scoria could replace river sand by up to 50% for conventional concrete production.

Keywords: green concrete; scoria; river sand; virgin aggregate; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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