COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICATION OF ALTERNATIVE AGGREGATES FROM THE CARPATHIAN REGION IN THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS AND BLOCKS

Abstract

aggregate, concrete mix, modifying admixture, strength, wall block, road slab

The paper presents the results of an experimental study on factory-produced reinforced concrete road slabs and wall blocks in which conventional aggregates were replaced with alternative local aggregates from the Carpathian region, namely gravel crushed stone and sandstone crushed stone. The main objective was to determine whether the use of local aggregates can ensure the required strength, frost resistance, and concrete uniformity for factory-made slabs and blocks of strength class C16/20 with a design frost resistance class F150. To this end, four concrete mix compositions were developed: slabs and blocks produced with gravel aggregate, and slabs and blocks produced with sandstone aggregate. The workability of the mixtures was maintained at S3 for blocks and S1 for slabs by combining the superplasticizer Plastidor 5 with the air-entraining admixture Plastidor 71 at a constant water–cement ratio. Concrete strength was determined on cubic specimens after one day of curing, after heat-and-moisture treatment, and at 28 days, enabling evaluation of both early-age and long-term strength development for each composition. Frost resistance was assessed using an accelerated cyclic freezing–thawing method in a 5% saline solution, with strength changes recorded after a specified number of cycles. All tested compositions achieved 28-day compressive strength values that substantially exceeded the normative requirements for class C16/20, while the relative strength loss after freezing–thawing cycles remained within approximately 6–12%, consistent with the requirements for concrete of class F150. In parallel with destructive testing, non-destructive assessment of strength and its distribution in finished slabs and blocks was performed using rebound hammer testing and ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements, followed by conversion to equivalent strength values. Overall, concrete made with gravel aggregate exhibited slightly higher strength and lower strength loss after frost cycles than concrete made with sandstone aggregate; however, both types of local aggregates provided acceptable performance characteristics.

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