EVALUATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BENDING STRENGTH USING OLIVE OIL MILLS WASTEWATER IN SHORT - TERM

Abstract In certain regions, water scarcity has resulted in inquiries regarding viable alternatives to conventional water purification methods, this investigation suggests that olive oil refineries can recycle a portion of their effluent (OOMW) to reuse wastewater by incorporating it into reinforced concrete mixtures. To investigate the effects of incorporating (OOMW) into the concrete mix on the material's shear, flexural, and compressive strengths, the researchers conducted comprehensive experimental research. In total, twelve beams were used as control samples, while 60 beams were immersed in (OOMW) at concentrations ranging from 2.5% to 15% (v/v). The subsequent operation involved immersing the remaining 60 beams in (OOMW) at variable concentrations. The two zones were fortified by the installation of two longitudinal steel rods, with a dimetres of 8 mm for the tensile zone and 6 mm for the compression zone. The investigation measured the diameter of the stirrups at four millimeters. At intervals of seven, fourteen, twenty-one, and twenty-eight days, the health of the samples was evaluated. The results of this study, in conjunction with previous research, indicate that the optimal overall performance was achieved by substituting 7.5% of untreated wastewater with pure water. Additionally, the results indicated a significant increase in the compressive strengths of the concrete specimens by approximately 32% in comparison to the control specimens after 28 days. The flexural strength of the reinforced concrete increased by nearly the same amount, reaching 7.23 MPa without weight (OOMW) and 7.26 MPa for the control specimens. The results of a sixty-five-day trial indicated that the addition of 7.5% OOMW effluent to the steel did not lead to any significant changes for resistance.