Tertiary Blended Aerated Concrete Incorporating Fly Ash, GGBS, and Silica Fume: A Comprehensive Review

AbstractThe construction industry is increasingly focused on developing sustainable materials to reduce theenvironmental impact of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) production. Aerated concrete, characterized by itslightweight and thermal insulation properties, offers significant advantages but is limited by relatively lowerstrength and higher porosity compared to conventional concrete. The incorporation of supplementarycementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and silica fumehas emerged as a promising approach to enhance the performance of aerated concrete. This review paperpresents a comprehensive analysis of recent research (2020–2026) on ternary blended aerated concrete (TBAC)incorporating fly ash, GGBS, and silica fume as partial cement replacements. The review examines theinfluence of these SCMs on fresh properties (workability, flowability), mechanical properties (compressive,tensile, and flexural strength), and durability characteristics (chloride resistance, water absorption, andmicrostructure). The synergistic effects of ternary blending are discussed, along with the optimal proportions ofSCMs for achieving balanced performance. The review identifies existing research gaps and providesrecommendations for future research directions, including long-term durability studies, microstructuralcharacterization, life cycle assessment, and practical applications. The findings indicate that ternary blends of flyash, GGBS, and silica fume can produce aerated concrete with enhanced mechanical and durabilitycharacteristics while reducing cement consumption by up to 30–50%, contributing to sustainable constructionpractices.