Developing Concrete Mixture Proportions Containing Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Fly Ash (05-1756) - MP-13
Natalie K. Peterson, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
W. Micah Hale, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) are two industrial byproducts that have cementitious properties. GGBFS and FA have been shown to improve long-term strength and durability as a replacement of cement, even in replacements of over 40%. In the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, the amount of cement replacement by weight allowed for GGBFS is 25% and 20% for FA. The use of both materials is prohibited by AHTD Specifications. The primary goal of the research program is to develop guidelines for AHTD specifying concrete containing GGBFS, FA, or both materials. The program was developed in order to be able to compare the strength, durability, and permeability of the mixture designs based solely on the change in GGBFS, FA, or both. The preliminary results from the research show that, with materials common in Arkansas, higher replacements of cement by weight with GGBFS, FA, and ternary mixture designs could be beneficial due to the strength, permeability, and durability improvements when compared to control mixture design containing only portland cement. The preliminary recommendation is that the limits of GGBFS and FA be increased to no more than 40% replacement by weight and that a maximum replacement of 20% GGBFS/20% FA ternary mixture design be allowed.