Enhancing Concrete Properties Using Silica Fume: Optimized Mix Design

Authors

  • Ammar Ali Abed

    General Company for Ports of Iraq, Department of Engineering Affairs, Basrah-Iraq, Iraq University College-Basra, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Tabriz University, 5166616471, Iran

  • Ibtisam Kamal

    Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Soran University, Kurdistan Region, 44008, Iraq

  • Alireza Mojtahedi

    Faculty of Civil Engineering, Tabriz University, 5166616471, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jsbct.v5i1.5678
Received:22 April 2023 | Revised: 20 May 2023 | Accepted: 1 June 2023 | Published Online: 9 June 2023

Abstract

In the current work, concrete mixes containing (7.0-33.11) weight % silica fume as a partial replacement of cement with a water /cement ratio (0.42-0.48) were prepared according to an adopted two factorial central composite design. The samples were tested, optimized, and modeled for compressive strength and density.  The estimated results confirmed that compressive strength and density increase with increasing silica fume content up to 11.9 wt.%. Response surface analysis results confirmed that silica fume concrete with developed compressive strength (53.42 MPa) could be prepared by incorporation of 11.9 wt. % silica fume as partial replacement of cement using 0.42 water/cement ratio. An increase in compressive strength and density (up to  39.3% and  2.6% ) respectively was recorded for silica fume concrete mixes compared to Portland cement concrete. Overall, the research findings revealed that silica fume concretes prepared with appropriate silica fume content and water/cement ratio exhibited superior strength and density characteristics candidate them to be used effectively in civil engineering applications.

Keywords:

Silica fume; Silica fume-cement concrete; Response Surface Methodology; Density; Compressive strength; Optimization; Modeling

References

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How to Cite

Ali Abed, A., Kamal, I., & Mojtahedi, A. (2023). Enhancing Concrete Properties Using Silica Fume: Optimized Mix Design. Journal of Smart Buildings and Construction Technology, 5(1), 84–91. https://doi.org/10.30564/jsbct.v5i1.5678

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