Uncovering the influence of gold tailings on foam stability and mechanical performances of foamed concrete

The present investigation is dedicated to exploring the potential of utilizing gold tailings to enhance the performances of foam concrete. Tests to assess foam stability and compressive strength have been performed. The inherent yield stress exhibited by the matrix is utilized as a metric to evaluate the foam stability of the foamed concrete. Compressive strength of matrix and density ratio are employed to analyze and predict the strength of foam concrete. The experimental findings unveil that mechanical performances of foam concrete can be augmented through the incorporation of an optimal quantity of gold tailings. This enhancement can be attributed to the development of a more compact and less permeable microstructure. However, it should be noted that the inclusion of gold tailings may also have an adverse effect on the foam stability of foamed concrete. This is due to their ability to enhance the fluidity and decrease the yield stress of the base mix, thereby reducing the overall stability of the foam concrete. The main control factors of foam concrete strength are determined by using the prediction model. Compared with the foam stability, the enhancement in compressive strength of base mix, coupled with a consistent density ratio may account for the enhancement of compressive strength in foam concrete.