Experimental Investigation on Strength Characteristics of Concrete Incorporating Aluminium Dross as Cement Substitute

Abstract

The enhancement of shear performance of reinforced cement concrete beams by using aluminum waste as a partial replacement of cement has gained significant importance in recent times. The study focusses on dual challenges of sustainable construction and effective waste management, by incorporating aluminum dross-a byproduct of the aluminum industry as a partial replacement for cement in reinforced concrete beams. Firstly, the cubes are casted with varying % of aluminum dross by the weight of cement. The cement has been replaced with aluminum dross in finely powdered form by its weight varying from 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30%. A series of experiments were conducted to find the range of optimum replacement levels. In that range, reinforced cement concrete beams are casted, again series of experiments were conducted to obtain optimum replacement % and finite element modelling were made to evaluate the shear performance and to validate the result. The results reveal that a 10% replacement of cement with aluminum dross yields the optimum performance, showing improved mechanical strength compared to the control mix. Beyond this dosage, a decline in strength was observed. The results from experiments shows significant improvement in shear strength or shear capacity till optimum replacement levels beyond which shear performance declines. Incorporating aluminum dross not only improves mechanical properties but also reduces cement usage, focusing on sustainability goals. The study demonstrates that aluminum dross can be effectively utilized as a sustainable alternative in cementitious materials, contributing to both environmental protection and economic benefits.