Environmental assessment, microstructural behaviour, stress-strain characteristics, and effect of exposure to extreme temperature on sustainable concrete made with dolomite mining residues

Abstract

Mining and extraction of stones and minerals play a significant role in many countries economic growth in the world. The production of dolomite minerals in various industries in India and other countries produces vast amounts of waste in different fractions. Disposal of these types of industrial wastes in an immense quantity causes environmental pollution. The performance of dolomite mining residues on concrete properties as a fine aggregate substitute was examined. The microstructural analysis was conducted on the concrete samples to find the effect of dolomite mining residues in concrete. The stress-strain behaviour of the dolomite mining residues concrete was studied. The effect of exposure to elevated temperature and freeze-thaw on concrete properties containing dolomite mining residues was found up to 100% at 10% incremental order. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG) tests were conducted on the dolomite mining residues and concrete samples. As a test result, concrete properties influence with the incorporation of the dolomite mining residues as a substitution of river sand, but no significant effect is observed in the concrete properties containing 10% dolomite mining residues. Up to 10% of dolomite production waste can be used as a sand substitute in concrete and other applications for sustainable development.

Keywords: Dolomite mining residues; Elevated temperature; Freeze–thaw; Stress–strain; TGA/DTG.