Experimental behaviors of prefabricated members made of ferronickel slag concrete

Abstract As a by-product of nickel production, a large amount of ferronickel slag (FNS) puts great pressure on the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to treat the FNS to solve serious challenges to the environment. The FNS can be used as a partial replacement of Portland cement in concrete, so this industrial by-product may act as a suitable alternative of conventional building materials with high carbon footprint to achieve sustainable development. The concrete containing 0%, 15% and 30% FNS was prepared and assessed for its compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, resistance to chloride ions penetration and bond behaviors. The obtained results showed that the use of FNS had positive effects on the mechanical properties and durability of concrete due to the higher pozzolanic activity of FNS at the late hydration age and its finer particles than cement. Moreover, 15% FNS addition brought more significant increase in compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength and bond strength than the use of 30% FNS as a replacement of cement. But the increasing FNS content resulted in the increase of resistance to chloride ions penetration of concrete. In addition, static loading tests and cyclic loading tests were carried out to assess the effects of the FNS on the overall structural behaviors of the prefabricated members. The specimens exhibited similar failure modes which mainly involved yielding of longitudinal steel bars. The ultimate bearing capacity attained by FNS concrete members was similar to that of conventional concrete members, but the specimens made of FNS concrete exhibited higher ductile capacity. The FNS concrete members also experienced more cracking and concrete crushing at the end of test, thus showing better energy dissipation capacity.