Evaluation of compressive strength and resistance of chloride ingress of concrete using a novel binder from ground coal bottom ash and ground calcium carbide residue

Abstract This study focuses on producing concrete made from a novel binder from a mixture of ground bottom ash (GBA) and ground calcium carbide residue (GCCR). GBA mixed with GCCR at a ratio of 70:30 (GBC) was used as a binder and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at 10% wt. of binder was also used to strengthen mechanical properties and durability of concrete. The binder to aggregate ratios were ranged between 0.15 and 0.35 and the water to binder ratios between 0.3 and 0.7 were used. Chloride migration coefficient by the method of non-steady state migration and compressive strength of concrete were investigated. The results indicated that the compressive strength at 28 days of GBC concrete (without OPC) could be as high as 29.7 MPa and increased to be 44.3 MPa with OPC of 55 kg for 1 m3 of concrete. Although the compressive strength of concrete from a new binder (GBC concrete) was lower than OPC concrete at the same W/B ratio, chloride migration resistance of the concrete was better than OPC concrete. Furthermore, the coefficient of chloride migration of concrete made from the new binder (W/B ratio of 0.3) was equal to 2.55 × 10−12 m2/s which was significantly lesser than that of OPC concretes corresponding to the concretes with W/B ratios of 0.3 and 0.5 which were 4.3 × 10−12 and 14.94 × 10−12 m2/s, respectively. The results of water permeability confirmed that the resistance of chloride migration of GBC concrete was better than concrete used only OPC as a binder. Moreover, the GBC concrete reduced the penetration of water or solution when compared with OPC concrete, and GBC + 10 concrete (10% of OPC was added in GBC concrete) provided a very good result for the compressive strength, water permeability, and chloride migration resistance of the concrete.