Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Concrete Made with Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregates using Iron Filling

This study used iron fillings as partial replacement for fine aggregates in concrete, in order to reduce environmental pollution caused by aggregates production. Cement fineness and setting times and aggregates specific gravity were tested. Concrete mixes with 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% of iron fillings by weight of fine aggregates were produced. Control concrete was also produced. Fresh concrete properties were assessed using slump test. Hardened concrete properties were evaluated at curing ages of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days through split tensile, flexural and compressive strengths. Results indicated slump values for all concrete variations ranged from 35 to 45, showing consistent workability. At 28 days, tensile strength for control concrete was 1.85 N/mm<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>, while values for concrete variations ranged from 1.82 to 2.54 N/mm<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>. Flexural strength for control concrete at 28 days was 4.01 N/mm<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>, while it ranged from 3.78 to 5.12 N/mm2 for concrete variations. Compressive strength of control concrete at 28 days was 19.87 N/mm2, with values ranging from 18.51 to 23.45 N/mm2 for concrete variations. This study concludes that concrete variations possessed standard strength values, except for 8% and 10% iron filling variations.