The use of copper slag (CS) as a substitute for fine aggregate (FA) in slender RC columns was investigated experimentally in this study. 20 columns of 150 mm x 150 mm x 2500 mm were tested to check the monotonic axial compression load until failure. The concrete mixture included ordinary Portland cement (OPC) cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate of 10 mm and CS. The percentage of cement, water and coarse aggregate remained constant within the mixture, while the percentage of CS as a substitute of fine aggregate varied from 0 to 100%. Four steel bars of 8 mm high yield and 6 mm mild steel were used as longitudinal and transverse reinforcement, respectively. Five 100 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm, eight 150 mm x 300 mm and five 100 mm x 100 mm x 500 mm prisms were molded and tested for each mixture to determine the compressive and tensile strengths Of the concrete.
The results showed that the substitution of up to 40% of fine aggregate with CS did not cause significant changes in concrete strength, column failure load or measured flexural stiffness (EI). Increasing the percentage additionally, concrete strength, column failure load and flexural stiffness (EI), and increased concrete breakage and lateral and vertical deflections of the column were reduced. The maximum difference in concrete strength between the mixtures of 0% CS and 100% CS was 29%, the difference between the measured / control failure loads between the columns with 0 and 100% CS being the maximum difference In the measured EI Among the columns with 0 and 100% CS was 25%. The calculated failure loads of all samples ranged from 91 to -100.02%. The measured steel deformations were proportional to the failure loads. It was observed that columns with high percentages of CS (t60%) experienced buckling at earlier loading stages than those with lower CS percentages.
Copper slag is a residue of the copper industry which is used essentially as an abrasive for metals to remove coatings or paints, due to its hardness, sieve distribution and rough surface, mainly in the naval industry. After the wear process, the copper slag retains most of its original properties, and remains an environmental problem. The chemical composition of the copper slag has a high content of Fe, Si and Al oxide, which makes it a pozzolanic material. Therefore, it is possible to use it as a partial replacement for the sand and then grinding it into very small particles as a replacement for the cement. After a chemical, physical, mineralogical and environmental characterization of copper slags, its use was investigated as partial replacement of sand in mortars.
The experimental program was developed to evaluate the effect of several percent sand substitution on mortars. For the mortars 25, 50 and 75% of the substitution of sand by volume was studied. A standard cement / sand ratio of 1/3, by weight, was used with CEM 42.5 I cement. The type of sand and the washing effect of the slag were also investigated. Resistance was measured at 7, 28, 60 and 90 days. The results obtained so far indicate that a reduction in strength occurs when the slag content increases. Additionally, a delay of the curing process was observed by the addition of the copper slag. In conclusion, the use of copper slag as a sand replacement appears to be a practical option.