Effect of Incorporating Black Sands (Magnetite and Ilmenite) into Concrete Mixtures on their Mechanical Properties

This research focuses on incorporating Black Sand Company supplies (magnetite and ilmenite) into concrete mixtures. The choice of those two materials was based on their high radiation shielding. The mechanical and physical qualities of eight different concrete mixtures were used to create a self-consolidating concrete (SCC) by altering the amounts of ilmenite and magnetite used. The ultrasonic pulse velocity of cylinders was measured for these mixtures to ensure their homogeneity and quality. Compressive strength was then evaluated at normal temperature at three different temperatures (200 °C -300 °C – 400 °C). Finally, a finite element analysis (FEA) model in ABAQUS was performed to simulate the flexure behavior of an experimental flexural test for a reinforced concrete beam. The results of FEA were compared to FE results of the same beam obtained with the new mix design. The results showed specimens with a high percentage of magnetite acquired more improvement compared with other specimens which means magnetite plays an important role in improving the strength and homogeneity of concrete mix design. Also, temperature increase does not show significant degradation in the compressive strength of most of the new mixes.