Abstract:
Making concrete more sustainable is the aim of modern research, and it is why there is a significant utilization of waste materials in concrete. When it comes to sustainable concrete, it is the ultimate goal to minimize its cost and increase its applications while maintaining its core strength characteristics. Out of the different waste materials available worldwide, sawdust is considered suitable for concrete because it is lightweight and fulfills filler material in concrete. It is why the previous studies have significantly focused on the utilization of sawdust as filler in concrete. Another additive is steel fiber which has had significant applications in recent years to provide the uniform tensile strength of concrete. The concrete itself is weak in tension, making the steel fibers a very sustainable alternative to increase the sustainability in structures.
This study is focused on using sawdust and steel fibers in concrete to determine its mechanical characteristics. Sand is replaced by sawdust at 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% while steel fiber is added at 0.5%, 1.0% 1.5% and 2.0% by weight. The control samples were also prepared to compare the findings from the experimental investigation, which is carried out to find out compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength. The results have shown that by increasing the percentage of sawdust, there is a significant decrease in all mechanical properties of concrete. Increasing the steel fibers also decreases the workability but increases the tensile strength. Therefore, it is recommended that the sawdust should not be replaced above 3%, while steel fibers must not be added above 0.5% as it affects the quality of concrete. However, sawdust should be used because it reduces concrete's weight and provides a sustainable solution to reduce waste.
