RED MUD AS A CEMENT PARTIAL REPLACEMENT IN CONCRETE ADMIXTURE WITH HYDRATED LIME
Main article
Abstract
Red mud is a solid waste formed in the alumina sector that provides a substantial environmental risk as well as a storage issue. In this study, an attempt is made to partially replace cement in concrete with red mud in various percentages to reduce the harmful effects of red mud and cement on the environment. Hydrated lime is also added to assist the red mud in achieving pozzolanic properties. The suitability of red mud with hydrated lime as a partial replacement for cement in concrete admixture was investigated. The mechanical properties of concrete admixture with the addition of red mud and hydrated lime as a partial replacement for cement were analyzed. Efforts were also made to determine the optimum percentage of red mud and hydrated lime in a concrete mixture. The results showed that adding red mud with hydrated lime as a partial replacement to concrete mixtures boosted the workability, strength, durability, and general performance of concrete in all varying percentages, with the exception of those where the red mud replacement was equal to 5% and a percentage of either 5% or 7% hydrated lime. The results also revealed that the highest compressive strength value obtained was 30.24 MPa with a 10% red mud and hydrated lime replacement at 7% and 28 days of curing age. The study concluded that the properties of the concrete were enhanced by using varying red mud percentages of 5%, 10% and 15%; and a fixed rate of hydrated lime at 7% and 5%. This will lower the cost of producing concrete by utilizing a waste product, thereby promoting recycling efforts as the main strategy for mitigating the overwhelming impact of massive waste volumes on the environment.
