Pyrite effect: correlation between compressive strength and durability properties for concrete samples

Abstract

Despite the two centuries that have passed, concrete still maintains its place at the top as a building material. Although it has different strength and performance characteristics than when it was first discovered with the developing technology, it can be said that it is still the most studied building material today. For this reason, researchers are investigating various materials that can improve the performance of concrete and at the same time can be recycled as waste. In this study, the effect of substitution of pyrite mineral rocks obtained from copper mines into concrete as fine aggregate on the compressive strength and water absorption values of concrete specimens was investigated. For this purpose; 2.5% and 7.5% by weight of pyrite aggregate was substituted for sand and crushed sand aggregate in the concrete design mix. A total of 9 concrete cube specimens of 100x100x100 mm were produced for 3 series together with the reference specimens and the averages of 3 specimens were used as data after 28 days of curing. The data obtained show that as the pyrite aggregate substitution rate increases, the water absorption rate increases by 0.41%, and the compressive strength decreases by 21.32%.

Keywords

• concrete
• compressive strength
• pyrite
• water absorption
• sustainability
• innovative materials

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