Effect of Iron ore Tailings on the Drying Shrinkage of Concrete

Abstract

Abstract: The current pace of study about utilization of industrial waste material in making of concrete and its various applications in concrete production calls for a major paradigm towards achieving sustainability of the industry. Aggregate content in concrete is the most important factor affecting drying shrinkage. Previous researches have placed much attention on coarse aggregate content as it affects drying shrinkage while very few have reported about the influence of fine aggregate content in relation to the drying shrinkage. This study reports the effects of Iron ore tailings (a waste product generated from the production process of iron ore) on the drying shrinkage of concrete. Natural sand was partially replaced with Iron ore tailings to produce normal strength concrete. The properties of fine and coarse aggregate materials, the mechanical properties of concrete and the drying shrinkage were studied. The outcomes of research indicates that the inclusion of Iron ore tailings as fine aggregate in concrete slightly reduced the drying shrinkage of concrete.