Experimental investigation on flexural performance of functionally graded concrete beams using flyash and red mud

Investigação experimental sobre o desempenho flexural de vigas de concreto funcionalmente classificadas usando flyash e lama vermelha

ABSTRACT

The continuous change in the strength and other properties, environmental problems, hike in cement price, advancement of construction industry makes the usage of alternative materials as Functionally graded materials (FGM) which leads to a new materials on concrete as Functionally graded concrete (FGC), In this present paper, investigation has carried out on the functionally graded concrete by using red mud and also fly ash. In this M₂₀ grade of concrete is used as the conventional concrete in compression zone and M₂₅ with the replacement of cement by red mud and flyash with varying percentage (5%, 10% 15%) respectively in the tension zone. The results indicated that the 10% of the red mud and 10% of the fly ash as the optimum value for the concrete beam and by load deflection curve, it is evident that functionally graded concrete beam has more advantages than ordinary concrete since it has more durability and strength characteristics. Scanning electron microscope analysis was also carried out on the red mud functionally graded concrete and fly ash functionally graded concrete. It clearly indicated the pores present in the materials which tends to increase in strength of the concrete.

Keywords
Functionally graded concrete; M₂₀ and M₂₅ grade; Scanning electron microscope; Red mud; Flyash

ABSTRATO

A mudanca contínua na forca e outras propriedades, problemas ambientais, aumento no preco do cimento, avanco da indústria da construção civil faz uso de materiais alternativos como materiais de grau funcional (FGM) que leva a um novo material sobre concreto como concreto funcionalmente classificado (FGC), Neste presente artigo, a investigação tem sido realizada no concreto funcionalmente classificado utilizando lama vermelha e também sobre cinzas.Neste grau M20 de concreto é usado como concreto convencional na zona de compressao e M25 com a substituicao de cimento por lama vermelha e flyash com porcentagem variada (5%, 10% ,15%) respectivamente na zona de tensao.Os resultados indicaram que os 10% da lama vermelha e 10% das cinzas de mosca como o valor ideal para o feixe de concreto e pela curva de deflexao de carga, e evidente que o feixe de concreto funcionalmente classificado tem mais vantagens do que o concreto comum, uma vez que possui mais durabilidade e características de resistencia.A análise do microscopio eletronico de varredura também foi realizada no concreto de grau funcional da lama vermelha e cinzas de moscas de concreto funcionalmente classificado.Indicou claramente os poros presentes nos materiais que tendem a aumentar a forca do concreto.

Palavras-chave
Concreto funcionalmente classificado; grau M20 e M25; microscópio eletrônico de varredura; lama vermelha; Flyash

1. INTRODUCTION

The construction field mainly utilizes the concrete in almost all parts of the world. The conventional or ordinary Portland cement concrete is popularly known is used due to its various advantages as high compressive strength or its low cost. Because of the technical and environmental aspects concrete has some disadvantages. Over the past decades, functionally graded materials (FGM) have been increasing rapidly since their potential in cost optimizations and enhancement in materials performance HAN AYLIE et al. [¹³]. FGM is combination of two or more materials with different essential properties KOIZUMI [¹⁵]. The concept of the functionally graded materials is the basic for the development of Functionally Graded Concrete (FGC) Satyanarayana et al. [⁴]. Various investigations have been carried out on the FGC. Numerous mechanical problems obtained during optimization of the mechanical properties, which includes determinations of the properties and the crack propagation behaviour Bafekrpour et al. [¹⁶]. Functionally graded materials are prepared using sulphur concrete with the changes in the thickness by varying the rubber. These changes results FGM could be optimized Mohammadi et al. [¹⁸]. Functionally graded concrete materials (FGCMs) would be constructed in multiple layers by incrementally varying the material properties. FGM may also increase the residual stress distribution, thermal resistance, and resistance to cracking and reduce the stress intensity factor, so it is a very promising material that requires research for further developments. The load carrying capacity of FGC flexural beams was investigated by means of finite element mode. A combination of two different concrete strengths shows significant changes in the stiffness and ultimate load of the FGC beams HAN AYLIE et al. [¹³]. As the concrete is weak in its tensile strength, so it is economical to use functionally graded beam (FGB). The weakness of concrete such as shrinkage during coagulation and hardening, low tensile strength, poor crack resistance, brittleness, small ultimate extension and bad impact endurance, which prevails in concrete and limits its application, has been thoroughly dealt with in FGB SATYANARAYANA et al. [¹⁴]. Various works have been proved that the durability of the functionally graded concrete has been improved over regular concrete LIQINGHUA et al. [¹⁷]. Experimental and numerical investigations on the effects of two concrete strength gradation of FGC cylinder compressive strength have reported the high compressive strength of the FGC mixture HAN AYLIE et al. [¹³]. Although FGM was initially developed using metal material for spacecraft applications, nowadays it is also studied for building elements such as beams, plates, and shells. Figure.1 shows the graphical representation of cross section of functionally graded concrete specimen.

Figure 1
Graphical representation of Functionally Graded Concrete Specimen

As the functionally graded materials have an application in aerospace, infrastructure and other engineering applications. Fly ash enhances the workability, compressive and flexural strength due to hike in cement. Hence the functionally graded concrete makes it more economical than ordinary concrete. Fly ash, Red mud, Fibre reinforced concrete, natural fibres are some of the sources of functionally graded concrete. In this present investigation fly ash and red mud has used.

The inorganic waste generated during the process of extraction of the alumina from bauxite is RED MUD SMITA SINGH et al. [¹⁹]. Generally red mud is based on the reaction of bauxite with sodium hydroxide under high temperature and pressure BRUNORI et al. [²⁰]. During the production of 1 ton of alumina results on 1.5 to 1.6 tons of red mud. Around 95% of the alumina produced all over the world is the bauxite extraction by Bayer Process.

As per International aluminium institute, Bauxite is classified as Gibbsitic, Diasporic or Boehmitic with varying compositions. Bauxite are mined in countries like Australia, Brazil, India, Greece, Guyana, etc DENTONI et al. [³]. Table 1 shows the production of the red mud in some countries.

Table 1
Production of Red Mud

S.No	Country	Annual Production of Red Mud in million tons	Reference
1	Australia	30	Sutar et al, 2014
2	Brazil	10.6	Lima et al, 2017
3	India	10	Vijaya et al, 2018
4	Greece	0.7	Sutar et a,l 2014

Several research works has carried out on incorporating red mud by disposing in the cost effective way HOODA et al. [⁵] in the construction industry as the cement, Ceramics YANG et al [⁶], lightweight aggregate MOLINEUX et al. [⁴]. Another product used in the functionally graded concrete is the fly ash which is a solid, fine grained material resulting burning of pulverized coal in power station furnaces. For a sustainable development of the concrete industry High volume fly ash concrete is used which typically have 50-60% of fly ash content YANG et al. [⁶]. The usage of fly ash has in concrete has advantages like reduction of water demand, improves the workability, minimize the crack pattern and enhance durability to reinforcement corrosion Yang et al. [⁶]. Researchers found usage of fly ash in concrete has significantly increased in compressive strength. The contribution of the fly ash in the concrete mixes prepared at low w/c ratio was greater than mixed at high w/c ratio LAM et al. [¹⁰]. The strength of the concrete containing fly ash is more sensitive for poor curing than the control concrete RAMEZANIANPOUR et al. [¹²]

The focus of this present investigation is to investigate the behaviour of the functionally graded concrete for the desired mixed of M₂₀ and M₂₅. Cement is replaced with the red mud with the varying percentages of 5%, 10% and 15% and similarly with the replacement of fly ash as 5%, 10%, 15% respectively. The compressive strength, tensile strength and the load carrying capacity of the concrete beam is also determined for the FGC specimens and the cross section of the FGC for the red mud and the fly ash is observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Two point loading were carried out to observe the bending behaviour of the specimens.

2. EXPERIMENTAL WORK

2.1 Materials

The main components of the FGC were ordinary Portland cement, Fine aggregate, Coarse aggregate, Fly ash and Red mud. In this Cement, Fine Aggregate and Coarse aggregate are commonly used materials in construction industry. The Ordinary Portland cement of 53 grade is used confirming to IS 12269:1987 with conform to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Classification as C150 (Type I) Cement with the specific gravity of the cement as 3.15. The fine aggregate used are obtained from the natural river with the specific gravity of 2.67 and the coarse aggregate of 20mm size of 2.78 specific gravity is used which is a hard blue granite stones from quarries.

2.2 Fly Ash:

The by-product of the crushed coal which is widely used as a cementitious and pozzolanic ingredient in concrete is the fly ash. Fly ash has cementitious property due to which it enhances the workability, compressive strength and flexural strength. Fly ash used in this work collected from the Mettur Thermal Power station, India.

2.3 Red Mud:

The by-product generated from the alumina refining process is the red mud which is a Bauxite residue obtained on the reaction of bauxite with sodium hydroxide at high temperature, BRUNORI, et al. 2005 [²⁰]. The waste generated from the alumina refining industry has more alkalinity and causes significant environmental pollution. To solve these issues is to develop the economic utilization technologies that consume some amount of red mud. The key areas for utilization of the red mud are making of ceramics, bricks, and raw materials for cement and road materials. Hence in this investigation red mud is used with varying percentage in the functionally graded concrete. The red mud used in this work is obtained from Malco (Madras Aluminium Company Limited), India. The major components of the red mud generated is given in Table 2

Table 2
Major Components of red mud generated in alumina plant

Major Components (Wt. %)
Al2O3	Fe2O3	SiO2	TiO2	Na2O	CaO
21	42	13	1.8	4.3	1.2

The properties of the fly ash and the red mud used in this investigation are given in Table 3 and Table 4

Table 3
Properties of Fly ash and Red Mud

Material	Specific Gravity	Surface Area (m2/kg)	pH
Red mud	2.5	33650	12
Fly Ash	2.27	220	7.6

Table 4
Chemical Composition of Red mud and Fly ash

Determination	Red mud	Fly ash
SiO2	16.2	54.5
Fe2O3	36.1	6.0
CaO	1.0	6.5
Al2O3	21.3	23.2

3. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

In this investigation the compressive strength of the functionally graded concrete cubes is studied at 28 days with the placing of red mud and fly ash respectively at the distance of 25mm, 50mm and 75mm from the bottom of the concrete cubes with the remaining 125mm, 100mm and 75mm are the conventional concrete with the grades of the concrete used as M₂₀ and M₂₅ respectively. Also the flexural strength of the FGC specimen is determined at 28 days with the replacement of cement at 5%, 10% and 15% of Fly ash with both M₂₀ and M₂₅ grade concrete. To determine the deflection concrete beam is cast with the dimension of 1100mm x 100mm x 150mm under two point loading conditions. The reinforcement details of the beam is shown in the Figure.2 The microstructural characterizations of the specimens are also found out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

Figure 2
Reinforcement details of Beam

3.1 Mix Design:

The mix design adopted in this study is based on IS codal Provison (IS: 10262-2009). The mix proportion for M₂₀ and M₂₅ is shown in Table 5

Table 5
Mix Details used in the functionally graded concrete

Mix Code	Cement (kg/m3)	Fine Aggregate (kg/m3)	Coarse Aggregate (kg/m3)	Water (kg/m3)
M20	394	692.46	1127.70	197
M25	437.7	724	1130.35	197

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Compressive Strength

The Compression strength test according to IS:516 – 1959 at ages of 28 days on the cube specimen of standard size 150mm were used which represent the average of the three number of cube specimens. The result of the compressive strength of red mud and fly ash of the respective percentage variations (5%, 10% and 15%) is shown in Fig 3 and Fig 4.

Figure 3
Compressive strength of Red Mud

Figure 4
Compressive strength of Fly ash

4.2 Flexural Behaviour of Specimen

The beam specimen of size 1100mm long, 100mm wide and 150mm deep is tested under two point loading condition in the loading frame as shown in the Fig 5. A load cell of 500kN is used to find the applied load. Deflections were measured in the mid span of the beam using LVDT.

Figure 5
Experimental Set up

The first crack load of the control specimen is observed as 20.3, where as for the functionally graded concrete of red mud 5%, 10% and 15% is observed as 21.6kN, 23.4kN and 16.3kN respectively. Similarly for the functionally graded concrete of Fly ash for 5%, 10% and 15% is observed as 20.7kN, 22.2kN and 18.1kN as shown in Fig.6

Figure 6
First Crack Load

The load- deflection behaviour of the control beam and functionally graded concrete beam is observed in figure 7 (FGC, Flyash) and figure 8 (FGC, Red Mud) through load-deflection behaviour. At the mid-span of the beam the deflection is measured. From the plot it has been observed that deflection behaviour of functionally graded concrete beam of the red mud and fly ash was higher than the conventional beam.

Figure 7
Load –Deflection behaviour of Control beam and functionally graded Concrete Fly ash beam

Figure 8
Load –Deflection behaviour of Control beam and functionally graded Concrete Red Mud beam

4.3 Ductility Factor

Ductility is one of the most important parameters to be considered in the design of structure subjected to large amount of inelastic deformation due to various loading conditions such as wind, seismic or impact loading. It is defined as the ability of a member to undergo inelastic deformations beyond the yield deformation without significant loss in its load carrying capacity. The ductility of a flexural member can be obtained from its load-deflectioncurve. The ratio of ultimate deflection at first yield is known as ductility factor (μ). The Figure 9 and Figure 10 showed the ductile behaviour of the beam member.

Figure 9
Ductility factor of Red Mud

Figure 10
Ductility factor of fly ash

4.4 Microstructural Characterization

The Microstructure and the morphology of the structure of redmud and fly ash were characterized with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM). The images of the microstructures of Flyash and red mud were taken using secondary electron image mode under accelerating voltage of 20kV. The SEM images of the near spherical particles are taken from (1µm- 10µm). Based on the capture image the fly ash and red mud yield different surface texture and grain sizes. In Fig.11a and Fig.11b, the considerable amounts of red mud particles are found. A little amount of unstructured phase was observed in Fig.11b. In fig.11c, the needle shaped particles were observed and Fig.11d is denser which fills the pore particles. Similarly Fig.12a and Fig.12b shows the fly ash particles. Fig.12c and Fig.12d shows the porous particles of the fly ash materials in an needle like shapes.

Figure 11
SEM Analysis of Beam Sample (Redmud)

Figure 12
SEM Analysis of Beam Sample (Fly Ash)

5. CONCLUSIONS

The present investigation is on functionally graded concrete with fly ash and red mud particles. Based on the experimental investigation the following conclusion are drawn,

• Functionally grade concrete specimen of red has the compressive strength value of 35N/mm2 for 50mm depth of FCG for the 10% addition of red mud. Whereas it is much higher than the other depths (25mm, 75mm) of FGCRM and conventional concrete. Similarly FGCFA has the increased in the compressive strength at the 50mm depth for 10% of fly ash in concrete.

• The first crack load of the functionally graded concrete fly ash and red mud has 1.58 times more than the conventional beam.

• From load-deflection curve it is found that the functionally graded concrete of red mud and fly ash is higher than the conventional beam.

• The microstructural characteristics shows that both the fly ash and red mud has the porous particles in the needle shapes which indicates the increases in the strength of the concrete.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  12 Mar 2021
• Date of issue
  2021

History

• Received
  22 Feb 2012
• Accepted
  06 Aug 2019