Investigations on optimum possibility of replacing cement partially by redmud in concrete

Abstract

Red mud is an industrial waste material generated during production of alumina from bauxite by Bayer process. These industrial wastes hold some heavy metals which are hazardous in nature. The aim of the paper is to investigate the possibility of partially replacing Portland cement in concrete by red mud and evaluating its compressive and splitting tensile strength. This study examines the effect of red mud on the properties of hardened concrete and compares with the conventional concrete. The test results revealed that 15% of cement can be optimally replaced by red mud beyond which compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength starts decreasing. Cement replacement by red mud up to 15% yields characteristic strength greater than the conventional cubes. Further increase in percentage of red mud by 20, 25 and 30% tends to decrease the compressive strength. However, the optimum replacement level was observed as 15% without decrease in strength.