Performance assessment of travertine waste as alternative concrete aggregate

Abstract

Travertine is a type of sedimentary rock formed as a result of precipitation of calcium carbonate in ground water under certain conditions. Many countries have travertine mine where travertine cutting wastes are generated. Since these wastes are hazardous for the environment, it is inevitable to come up with a solution for this problem. So, aim of this study is to find a way to remove the waste and adding economic value. Travertine wastes were obtained from the waste site, then transported to a quarry and crushed in different sizes up to 25 mm for using as aggregate in concrete. In addition to travertine waste aggregates, limestone and basalt aggregates were used and characterised by standard tests using for the determination of the physical and mechanical properties of aggregates. Compressive and splitting tensile strengths, modulus of elasticity measurements, wear resistance, capillary permeability, alkali-silica reactivity and freezing and thawing tests were performed on the concretes. Besides mechanical and durability tests, micro and macro structural examinations were performed to investigate the matrix-aggregate interface. Test results showed that concretes with a compressive strength of 30–60 MPa could be obtained using travertine waste aggregate. Additionally, these concretes can be durable against frost and alkali-silica actions compared to limestone and basalt aggregates.

Keywords:

• Waste recycling
• environmental pollution
• concrete
• aggregate
• travertine

Abbreviation List

ACI American Concrete Institute

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials

B Basalt

CEM Cement

CEN European Committee for Standardization

CDW Construction Demolition Waste

DS Danish Standard

EN European Norm

L Limestone

LA Los Angeles

T Travertine

TS Turkish Standard

W/C Water to Cement ratio

Acknowledgements

Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support with project # 6601a-FBE/20-398 provided by Yozgat Bozok University Project Coordination Application and Research Center.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Yozgat Bozok University Project Coordination Application and Research Center.