Mechanical strength optimization and simulation of cement kiln dust concrete using extreme vertex design method

• Published in: Nanotechnology for environmental engineering 2022-06, Vol.7 (2), p.467-490
• Main Authors: Alaneme, George Uwadiegwu, Attah, Imoh Christopher, Mbadike, Elvis Michael, Dimonyeka, Mark Uzochukwu, Usanga, Idorenyin Ndarake, Nwankwo, Henry Frank
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cement; Compressive strength; Concrete; Concrete mixes; Construction materials; Design; Design techniques; Dust; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environment; Environmental Science and Engineering; Industrial wastes; Kilns; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Mixtures; Model testing; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Optimization; Original Paper; Simulation; Statistical analysis; Statistical correlation; Variance analysis; Waste recycling
• ISSN: 2365-6379; 2365-6387
• DOI: 10.1007/s41204-021-00175-4

Extreme vertex design (EVD) method was adapted for the experimental investigation involving the incorporation of industrial waste known as cement kiln dust (CKD) for concrete production; to encourage reuse and recycling of wastes and to achieve eco-friendly construction materials. This design method is mostly suited for factor levels impose with multiple constraints. Components’ constraint formulation was imposed expertly through the relevant literatures to determine the mixture-simplex bounded regions. The laboratory results obtained indicate maximum compressive-strength of 34.85 N/mm 2 with concrete mixture-ratio of 13.0434%-cement, 13.043%-CKD, 26.09%-fine-aggregate, 34.78%-coarse-aggregate and 13.0434%-water while the minimum of 18 N/mm 2 was obtained with mixture-ratio of 13.79%-cement, 2.299%-CKD, 39.08%-fine-aggregate, 36.78%-coarse-aggregate and 8.05%-water. The generated results were utilized for model-development and statistical-analysis. The statistical influence and diagnostic test results showed a good statistical correlation and points of great influence. The desirability-function was further deployed to achieve numerical and statistical optimization in-order to derive the optimal-solution for the factor-levels combination at 0.15:0.15:0.3:0.4 for cement, CKD, fine-aggregate and coarse-aggregate, respectively. A desirability computation result of 0.907 was obtained with optimal-response of 33.283 N/mm 2 . Model simulation was further carried out to test the EVD-model’s applicability using Student’s t -test and ANOVA. The results of statistical analysis indicated p -value > 0.05, showing no significant difference between the EVD-model simulated results and actual values.