Strength and chloride permeability studies on ground granulated blast furnace slag admixed medium strength concrete

Concrete is the most widely used construction material because of its versatility, economy, availability of raw materials, strength, and durability. In recent years, researchers have established that the utilization of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) can be used as alternative binders to Portland cement, and it will improve the various properties of concrete in fresh and hardened states. In this work, the effect of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on the strength and durability properties of concrete is studied. For the experimental investigation, four concrete mixes were prepared. The replacement rates were varied as 0 %, 30%, 40% and 50%. A concrete mix of grade M30 was investigated keeping water binder ratio as 0.465 with a total cementitious material content of 400 kg/m3of concrete. Test results indicated that the use of GGBS as a partial replacement of cement in concrete increases its compressive strength and durability and was concluded that GGBS can be suitably used up to 50% replacement of cement and is applicable at reinforced cement concrete construction.