Exploring the impact of marble waste aggregate on the mechanical, durability, and microstructure properties of concrete with Metakaolin

• Published in: Journal of building pathology and rehabilitation 2024-12, Vol.9 (2), Article 95
• Main Authors: Gaidhankar, Darshan, Bhangale, Mayur, Sathe, Sandeep, Ingle, Ganesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Building Materials; Building Repair and Maintenance; Energy Efficiency; Engineering; Engineering Thermodynamics; Heat and Mass Transfer; Research Article; Structural Materials
• ISSN: 2365-3159; 2365-3167
• DOI: 10.1007/s41024-024-00446-y

The extraction and processing of marble in various states of India have led to significant environmental concerns due to the production of large quantities of marble waste. This experimental study investigates the potential of utilizing marble waste as a replacement for fine aggregate (FA) in concrete mixtures of M30 grade, aiming to enhance both the performance and environmental sustainability of concrete. Seven different concrete mixtures were prepared by varying the percentage replacement of FA with fine marble aggregate (FMA) (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 60%) and 10% cement replacement by Metakaolin (MK). Results indicate that the optimal replacement level of FA with FMA is 20%, which led to improvements in compressive strength (CS), split tensile strength (STS), and flexural strength (FS) by 7.14%, 9%, and 9.57%, respectively. Moreover, the durability properties, assessed through the Rapid Chloride Penetration Test (RCPT), water penetration test, and acid attack test, demonstrated enhanced resistance to aggressive agents, attributed to the cohesive properties of FMA, resulting in an impermeable microstructure. Microstructural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) further supported the findings.