Enhancing Concrete Properties With Steel Slag And Dolomite Powder: A Sustainable Approach

Utilizing industrial by-products as supplementary materials in concrete has been gaining popularity due to the demand for sustainable construction. The mechanical and workability properties of M30 grade concrete are evaluated in this study, in which steel slag acts as a partial substitute for coarse aggregates (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) and dolomite powder acts as a partial substitute for cement (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). The performance evaluation included Workability, split tensile strength, flexural strength, and compressive strength at 7, 28, and 56 days. The test results revealed that the low replacement percentages caused a significant increase in the strength of concrete due to better particle packing, dolomite filler effects, and steel slag angular interlocking. Larger replacement percentages negatively affected workability and mechanical performance, mainly because of a loss in cohesion and an increase in brittleness. The study demonstrates that the combined application of steel slag and dolomite powder presents a practical, environment-friendly approach to M30 concrete performance enhancement with reduced reliance on natural raw materials, promoting sustainable building techniques.