Effects of Alternative Binder and Aggregate Use on the Compressive Strength of Concrete

The use of industrial wastes in concrete production is of significant importance in reducing environmental impacts and lowering costs. In this study, concrete mixtures were designed by using olivine minerals as a substitute for Portland cement (PC), chromite powder as fine aggregate, and ferrochromium slag as coarse aggregate. The effects of different binder and aggregate ratios on the compressive strength of the concrete were examined after a 7-day curing period. Experimental results showed that mixtures with 5% olivine substitution achieved the highest compressive strength of 22.30 MPa, particularly in mixtures with a cement dosage of 500 kg/m³. This result indicates that the low water/cement ratio and the addition of olivine contribute to increased early-age strength. Furthermore, increasing the chromite powder content to 20% in mixtures with a water/cement ratio of 0.61 led to an 11.7% increase in compressive strength, demonstrating the positive impact of chromite powder on the mechanical performance of the concrete. These findings highlight that cement replacements and aggregate types can significantly affect the mechanical properties of concrete, emphasizing the need for careful selection of both material compositions.