Comparative Study On The Structural Performance Of M25 And M30 Grade Concrete With Industrial Slag And Sisal Fiber Integration

Abstract

The Rapid Growth Of The Construction Sector Has Intensified The Demand For Sustainable Alternatives To Natural Aggregates And Traditional Concrete Additives. This Experimental Study Evaluates The Structural Feasibility Of Incorporating Iron Ore Slag Waste As Partial Replacements For Natural Coarse Aggregates In M25 And M40 Grade Concrete. Furthermore, The Study Explores The Synergistic Effect Of Natural Sisal Fiber Integration On The Mechanical Performance Of The Optimized Mix. Coarse Aggregates Were Replaced With Iron Ore Slag At Substitution Levels Of 20%, 40%, And 60% By Weight. Mix Proportions Were Designed Following The IS 10262:2019 Standard. The Fresh And Hardened Properties Of The Concrete, Including Workability, Compressive Strength, And Split Tensile Strength, Were Rigorously Tested At 7 And 28-day Curing Intervals. The Investigation Identified The Optimum Replacement Ratio That Balances Structural Integrity With Workability. To Address The Inherent Brittleness Of The Concrete Mixes, Sisal Fibers Were Subsequently Integrated Into The Identified Optimum Mix At 0.5% Increments (up To 2% By Volume). The Results Demonstrate The Comparative Performance Of The Slag-replaced Concrete Against The Control Mix, Highlighting The Influence Of Fiber Reinforcement On Tensile Strength And Crack Resistance. This Research Provides A Critical Framework For The Utilization Of Industrial By-products In Civil Engineering, Demonstrating That While Aggregate Replacement Affects Workability, Strategic Fiber Integration Can Effectively Mitigate Strength Degradation, Leading To More Sustainable And Cost-effective Construction Materials.

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