EFFECT OF BLENDING OF PORTLAND CEMENT WITH GROUND

GRANULATED BLAST FURNACE SLAG ON THE PROPERTIES OF

CONCRETE
Kamran Muzaffar Khan*, University of Engineering &Technology Taxila, Pakistan
Usman Ghani, University of Engineering & Technology Taxila, Pakistan

29th Conference on OUR WORLD IN CONCRETE & STRUCTURES: 25 - 26 August 2004,
Singapore

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29
th
Conference on OUR WORLD IN CONCRETE & STRUCTURES: 25 - 26 August 2004, Singapore
EFFECT OF BLENDING OF PORTLAND CEMENT WITH GROUND
GRANULATED BLAST FURNACE SLAG ON THE PROPERTIES
OF CONCRETE
Kamran Muzaffar Khan*, University of Engineering &Technology Taxila, Pakistan
Usman Ghani, University of Engineering & Technology Taxila, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
Portland cement, already being a very expensive material constitutes a
substantial part of the total construction cost of any project and the situation has further
been aggravated by the energy crisis, which has further increased the cost of
production of Portland cement. Therefore, it is of current importance for the country to
explore and develop cementing materials cheaper than Portland cement. In this
research, GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag) was collected from Steel Mills
Karachi (Pakistan) and pulverized to a very fine degree from a pulverizer. Physicall
Chemical properties, such as, compressive strength, fineness, setting times, soundness
and chemical composition of GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag) were
investigated and comparison has been made with the relevant properties of cement
Effect of replacement was seen on workability, compressive strength, tensile strength,
modulus of rupture, equivalent cube strength by casting mixes of different ratios;
1 :2:4,1 :1.5:3,1 :1.25:2.50, 1:1 :2. WIC ratio for first two mixes was kept as 0.65 and for
rest two mixes as 0.45.After cost comparison of GGBS and Ordinary Portland Cement it
is concluded that p rice of G GBS is 25% to 50% less than that of Ordinary Portland
Cement. This aspect of GGBS makes it economical.
Key words. GGBS, Cement replacement materials, concrete
1. Introduction
Considering the high prices of Portland cement, a considerable need in our Pakistan for
promoting cementitious materials cheaper than ordinary Portland cement. Planners, economists and
scientists are keenly alive to the need of materials to meet the ever-increasing demand and very high
prices of Portland cement. Another outstanding feature of GGBS is its resistance to alkali aggregate re
actions.
Cement replacement materials can partially replace Portland cement to some extent. For
Pakistan the development of cement replacement materials as substitute of cement is of current
importance as the country has large irrigation, highway networks and building programmes and big plans
for their expansion in the near future.
It is to present that the finely ground GGBS can be used as a partial substitute of Portland
cement to make concrete with satisfactory material properties similar to that shown by normal concrete.
The research work overall aimed at to compare the different properties of fresh & hardened concrete
329
made with different cement replacement levels of GGBS, with concrete having pure OPC (Ordinary
Portland cement).
Following properties of concrete using pure cement and blended cements with GGBS were
tested and compared
1. Workability
2. Compo Strength
3. Tensile strength
4. Modulus of rupture.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Workability
. P.J.Wainwright reported that for concretes made with equal slump, lower water content is
required compared to O.P.C. [9] The report given by ACI describes the presence of GGBS in the mix
improves workability and makes the mix more mobile but cohesive. [2]
2.2 Compressive. Strength
If a slag cement concrete and an OPC concrete are designed to have the same 28-day strength,
the slag cement concrete will require higher cement content. At one year, however, the slag concrete will
have achieved a significantly higher strength than the Portland cement concrete.[1]
2.3 Tensile Strength
The development of tensile strength of slag cement concretes is similar to that of compressive
strength and is influenced by the same factors (i.e. temperature, humidity, replacement level, composition
of slag and cement). When comparisons are made on the basis of equal compressive strengths then
slag cement concretes have a higher tensile strength than Portland cement concrete. [1]
2.4 Modulus of Elasticity
The rate of gain of modulus at early ages for slag cements increases far more with an increase in
temperature than an equivalent Portland cement concrete [1]
3. Properties of GGBS
3.1 Chemical Composition of GGBS
Oxide composition of GGBS was found using X-ray Diffraction Machine with the cooperation of
BestWay Cement Pakistan GGBS contains 36.53% CaO, 31.54% Si0
2
, 13.03% A1
2
0
3
, 8.68% MgO,
1.13% S03
3.2 Fineness
Fineness in terms of specific surface area was found in lab using Blain's Air permeability
apparatus as 3800cm
2
/gm.
4. Testing of concrete.
Four mixes namely 1 :2:4, 1:1 :5:3, 1: 1.25:2.50 & 1.1:2 at three different replacement levels of cement i.e.,
0%, 25%, 50% by GGBS were made and tested. Various properties of concrete (fresh and hardened)
have been investigated in this research work. Their results are represented in the table 1.
5. Discussion
5.1 Workability of Concrete
The workability for various mixes, for specified replacement levels of Portland cement by finely
ground GGBS, maintaining a constant water cement ratio was measured by slump test.
As evident from the results of Table (1) and graph-1, there was an appreciable increase in the
workability of concrete with increaSing the percent replacement of cement by GGBS. Also during
moulding of test specimens and handling of GGBS mixed concrete reflected the plasticizing effect of fine
particles in increasing the mobility of the aggregate in the concrete.
Also replacement by weight resulted in a considerably greater volume of the cementitious
material due to substantial difference in the specific gravitates of cement (3.10) and finely ground GGBS
(2.90). Therefore, GGBS was more plastic, having an improved finishibility and easier placing.
330
5.2 Compressive Strength of Concrete
From the examination of the compressive strength test results on different concrete mix ratios (1 :
2: 4, 1 :1.5:3, 1 :1.25:2.50, 1:1 :2) by varying the % replacement of cement with GGBS (0%, 25% & 50%),
following observations are made.
1) There was a decrease in early age strength i.e. 3 day and 7 day, as the replacement level was
gradually increased from 25 percent 50 percent. Whereas there was an appreciable gain in strength after
7 days up to 28 days, as GGBS mixed concrete giving almost same strength as that of the plain cement
concrete. However, mixes with 50 percent replacement level have yielded slightly lowest strengths
2. Compressive strength decreases as the % replacement of cement is increased but the % reduction in
strength is different at different ages of concrete. I.e. more % reduction in 3 days strength and lesser in
28-day's strength.
3) Another important thing which was observed that % strength reduction was more in case of 1 :2:4 mix
ratio than 1 :1.5:3 and % strength reduction was more in case of mix ratio 1 :1.25:2.50 than 1:1 :2.
Minimum % strength reduction was in case of mix ratio 1:1:2 and maximum in case of 1 :2:4. It means
that with the increase in the cement quantity, the strength reduction can be minimized
4) A more important thing which was observed that if water cement ratio is decreased using water
reducers, % strength reduction can be minimized in addition to the other benefit of using GGBS as partial
replacer of cement.
Graphically results are represented in graph (2,3,4,5).
5.3 Tensile Strength of Concrete
The results of splitting tensile strength for plain and GGBS mixed on concrete of the four
traditional mixes are shown in the following tables & graphs.
It is evident from the splitting tensile strength test results that in al/ the four mixes, effect of
decrease in the early age strength due to replacement of cement by GGBS is less pronounced as
compared to compressive strength. Further more there is no substantial decrease in 28 day splitting
tensile strength even up to 50 percent replacement levels. Up to 25 percent replacement the GGBS
mixed concrete is yielding almost the same splitting tensile strength as that of plain cement concrete.
Graphically results are represented in graph (6).
5.4 Modulus of Rupture of Concrete
Behaviour of Modulus of rupture Of Concrete is found to be quite different from that of
compressive strength. Rate of % reduction in flexural strength is low as replacement levels increases
Graphically results are represented in graph (7).
6. Conclusions
As there was an appreciable increase in the workability of concrete with increasing percent
replacement of cement with ggbs, therefore wlc ratio can be reduced keeping the slump constant, which
will result in an increase in compressive strength. Even if wlc ratio is decreased using water reducers,
compressive strength can be increased up to strength of normal cement concrete.
Effect of partial replacement was very small tensile strength and modulus of rupture.i.e, between
strength of control mix & the blended cement concrete. GGBS is a waste product and only grinding
makes it fit for use. so it very economical cement replacement material. Consequently it also reduces the
cost of concrete. Using ggbs as cement replacement material is a suitable way for its disposal, so this
technique is environment friendly.
331
Table .1
RESULTS OF CONCRETE TESTING
Mix
Ratio
W/C
Ratio
Water
Content
(Kg/m
3
)
%
Replace
ment
Slump
(mm) Compressive Strength (psi)
Tensile
Strength
(psi)
Modulus of
Rupture
(psi)
Equivalent
Cube Strength
(psi)
3 Days 7 Days 28
Days
1:2:4 0.65 204 0 25 2310 2966 4101 380 639 3943
25 45 1686 2467 3789 368 639 3607
50 65 1062 1592 2810 344 581 3000
1:1.5:3 0.65 260 0 126 2435 3422 4682 418 710 4800
25 Collapse 2000 3060 4247 400 681 4434
50 Collapse 1405 2185 3528 368 649 3500
1 :1.25:2
.50
0.45 208 0 65 3795 3997 5777 515 897 5499
25 87 2623 3778 5152 489 865 5008
50 103 2092 3029 4715 423 810 4503
1:1 :2 0.45 247 0 86 4340 5589 6339 563 981 6245
25 100 3029 4997 6058 500 978 5873
50 120 2536 4247 5277 461 963 4978
Graph (1)
Relation b/w Workability & % Cement Replacement
--------- - - - ----,
Workability of Concrte
200
r-:-.. ----.. ... .
I ---+-1 :02:04
-
,
150

-
-v-1:1 .25:2.50
, 100
t ;'f
"""*'-1 :01 :02
____
J
__ __ __
0% 20% 40% 60%
% Cement Rlplacement
Graph (2)
Relation b/w Compressive Strength & % Cement Replacement
Compressive Strength of 1:2:4 Concrete at w/c=O.65
I -30ays 1
l
i
5000 __7 Days ,
!
c
4000 o------.lL
--t:r- 28 Days i __J

.1 f 3000 r---______
: .!: 2000
a 1000 I

COAl 20% 40% 60%
%Cement Replacement
332
I
Graph (3)
Relation b/w Compressive Strength & % Cement Replacement
Compressive St,rength of 1:1.5:3 Concrete at w/c=O.65
II-+- 3 Days 1
5000
l
j-4-7 Days
4000 L 28 DaysJ
3000 r---___
me

eIl_
2000r----....- __
ell
..
CIl
1000
Co
E
o
o

0% 20% 40% 60%
%Cement Replacement
Graph (4)
Relation b/w Compressive Strength & % Cement Replacement
Compressive Strength of 1:1.25:2.50 Concrete at
wlc=O.45 - - - .
-+-3 Days
7000 ___7 Days
6000 I
CDc='
5000 i----fr-____
.-> '" C1.
eIl_
1II.c CD _
.....--_ _
.. 01
C1.
c
3000
ECIl
2000
o ..
oti;
1000

0% 20% 40% 60%
%Cement Rsplacement
Graph (5)
Relation b/w Compressive Strength & % Cement Replacement
Compressive Strength of 1:1;2 Concrete at w/c=O,45
l
I .e
a, 7500
c
I 6000 ___A

> II)
'iii
II)
II
li 1500
I E
, 0
0
1
0% 20% 40% 60%
%C.ement Re.placement
L _ _
333
Graph (6)
Relation b/w Tensile Strength & % Cement Replacement
Tensile Strength of Concrte
- 600
.. ioo.
-+- 1 ;02-:04--1

___01:1 .5:3.0 II

! 300. "P'
L
-0-1:1.25:2.50
I
u;
-M-1 :01 :02
200
:!
100

0% 20% 40% 60%
% Cement Replacement
Graph (7)
Relation b/w Modulous of rupture & % Cement Replacement
- - ---- - - _._--------
Modulous of of Concrte
:; 1200

....... 1:02:04
...
1000
:I
___01:1 .5:3.0
-
A- 800
-0-1:1.25:2.50 i
600
...
0

:I
.!
0
'a
0
:E
400
200
0
0% 20% 40%
-M-1 :01 :02
60%
"10 Cement RBplacement
7.REFERENCES
1 A. M. Neville Properties of Concrete, 4th Edition (2003).
2 ACI226.1R-87, Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag as a cementitious constituent in concrete,
ACI Manual of concrete practice, part 1 :Materials and general properties of concrete,
16pp(Detroit Michigan, 1994)
3 A. M. Neville Concrete Technology.
4 F. M. Lie Chemistry of Cement.
5 R.N.Swamy, Cement replacement materials (1986)
6 BRITISH STANDARDS BS 6699:1992
7 ASTM C 989-94
8 Annual book of ASTM standards (1998).
9 P.J.Wainwright. Blended Cements-The use of GGBS and PFA in Concrete.
334