Mix Design And Strength Characteristics Of Reactive Powder Concrete

Abstract

Concrete is typically the most massive individual material element in the built environment. If the embodied energy of concrete can be reduced without decreasing the performance or increasing the cost, significant environmental and economic benefits may be realized. Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) concrete is a type of concrete in which a part of the cement is replaced by ground granulated blast furnace slag, which is an industrial waste. When used in concrete, ground granulated blast furnace slag is a cementations material that can act as a partial substitution for Portland cement without significantly compromising the compressive strength. Calcium nitrate also called norgessalpeter (Norwegian salt peter) and kalksal peter is a white color soluble salt with formula Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O. The main reason for the inclusion of calcium nitrate in the concrete serves as a set accelerator i.e. (reducing setting time) giving high initial strength, reduce bleeding and improve workability. In this investigation the effect of calcium nitrite at 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% by weight of cement in concrete containing GGBFS as mineral admixture to improve the strength of concrete was studied. Experimental results show that addition of GGBFS decreases the strength of concrete. But at the same time addition of calcium nitrate is increasing the strength of concrete.