Experimental study of electric furnace ferronickel slag as a supplementary cementitious material in massive high-strength concrete

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using electric furnace ferronickel slag (EFFS) as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in massive high-strength concrete (MHC). The workability, hydration heat, and pore structure of fresh and hardened paste are characterized using a rotor rheometer, an isothermal calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis, and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The adiabatic temperature rise, autogenous shrinkage, mechanical properties, and chloride permeability of the concrete are investigated to examine the effect of EFFS. The results show that the utilization of EFFS as an SCM can improve the workability and reduce the hydration heat. The pore structure can be refined with the decrease in the w/b ratio. The addition of EFFS can reduce the adiabatic temperature rise and long-term autogenous shrinkage of concrete. Moreover, the incorporation of EFFS in concrete can improve the long-term strength and durability properties. These results support the advantages of EFFS, which can endow MHC with sufficient properties to resist thermal cracking and autogenous shrinkage cracking. The utilization of EFFS as an SCM will be a good step toward sustainable infrastructure development.