Rheology, Mechanical Properties and Shrinkage of Self-Compacting Concrete Containing Cement Kiln and By-Pass Filter Dust

Abstract

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a high-quality construction solution, combining high fluidity, passing and filling ability with improved mechanical properties and durability. In the present study, the effect of incorporating alternative waste materials, such as two by-products of the cement industry, namely cement kiln dust (CKD) and by-pass dust (BPD) into SCC, as a partial replacement for traditional filler material, was investigated. The produced compositions were compared with reference mixtures containing exclusively marble powder (MP), as a filler. A series of tests encompassing specific test methods for wet SCC, compressive, flexural and tensile-splitting strength tests, as well as drying-shrinkage determination, were undertaken to evaluate the quality of the produced SCC in terms of fresh and hardened properties. The use of alternative fine-filler materials resulted in a high-performance sustainable SCC, of low cement content. To be precise, incorporating CKD into the SCC enhanced its rheological behavior and marginally improved its mechanical properties, while the use of BPD led to SCC mixtures of adequate rheological characteristics, coupled with significantly improved mechanical and physical properties.