Ternary Mixes of Self-Compacting Concrete with Fly Ash and Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Bottom Ash

This study aims to evaluate the potential of incorporating fly ash (FA) and municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (MIBA) as a partial substitute of cement in the production of self-compacting concrete mixes through an experimental campaign in which four replacement levels (i.e., 10% FA + 20% MIBA, 20% FA + 10% MIBA, 20% FA + 40% MIBA and 40% FA + 20% MIBA, apart from the reference concrete) were considered. Compressive and tensile strengths, Young's modulus, ultra-sonic pulse velocity, shrinkage, water absorption by immersion, chloride diffusion coefficient and electrical resistivity were evaluated for all concrete mixes. The results showed a considerable decline in both mechanical and durability-related performances of self-compacting concrete with 60% of substitution by MIBA mainly due to the aluminium corrosion chemical reaction. However, workability properties were not significantly affected, exhibiting values similar to those of the control mix.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the potential of using fly ash and municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash as partial substitutes for cement in producing self-compacting concrete mixes. The experiment found a significant decline in both mechanical and durability-related performances with 60% substitution, mainly due to the chemical reaction of aluminum corrosion. However, workability properties remained unaffected.