Sustainable Concrete Composites: Evaluation Of Structural Performance of Egg Shell Powder and Silica Fume Replaced Steel Fibre Added Concrete

International Journal of Civil Engineering

© 2025 by SSRG - IJCE Journal

Volume 12 Issue 7

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Arunima Raj S, Roselin R

10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I7P115

How to Cite?

Arunima Raj S, Roselin R, "Sustainable Concrete Composites: Evaluation Of Structural Performance of Egg Shell Powder and Silica Fume Replaced Steel Fibre Added Concrete," SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 7, pp. 168-182, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I7P115

Abstract:

Concrete plays a critical role in infrastructure development, but its heavy reliance on cement contributes significantly to global carbon emissions. Simultaneously, the need for improved mechanical performance and sustainability has driven research into alternative cementitious materials and advanced reinforcement strategies. In response to these challenges, this study explores the use of Eggshell Powder (ESP) and Silica Fume (SF) as partial replacements for cement, combined with Corrugated Steel Fibres (CSF) for mechanical enhancement. Concrete specimens were prepared with varying proportions of ESP (5–15%), SF (2.5–10%) and CSF (0–1.5%) and tested for 28-day compressive, split tensile and flexural strength. The optimized mix of 5% ESP, 2.5% SF and 1% CSF demonstrated superior performance, achieving 35.01 MPa in compressive strength, 5.37 MPa in split tensile strength and 5.97 MPa in flexural strength, compared to 31.93 MPa, 4.59 MPa and 4.75 MPa, respectively, in the control mix. These improvements highlight the effectiveness of combining industrial byproducts and bio-waste with steel fibre reinforcement to develop a cost-effective, high-strength and environmentally sustainable concrete solution.

Keywords:

Steel fibre reinforced concrete, Silica fume, Egg shell powder, Sustainable concrete, Mechanical properties, Cement replacement.

References:

[1] Pierre-Claude Aı̈tcin, “Cements of Yesterday and Today: Concrete of Tomorrow,” Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 30, no. 9, pp. 1349-1359, 2000.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] Abdul Rahim Sabouni, Advances in Reinforced Concrete Integrity and Failure, Advances in Structural Integrity and Failure, Intechopen, 2003.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[3] Suvash Chandra Paul, Gideon P.A.G. van Zijl, and Branko Šavija, “Effect of Fibers on Durability of Concrete: A Practical Review,” Materials, vol. 13, no. 20, pp. 1-26, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[4] Opeyemi Joshua et al., “Development of a Fully Pozzolanic Binder for Sustainable Construction: Whole Cement Replacement in Concrete Applications,” International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 1-12, 2018.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[5] Désiré Ndahirwa et al., “The Role of Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Hydration, Durability and Shrinkage of Cement-Based Materials, their Environmental and Economic Benefits: A Review,” Cleaner Materials, vol. 5, pp. 1-14, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[6] Behailu Zerihun Hailemariam et al., “Optimizing Alkali-Activated Mortars with Steel Slag and Eggshell Powder,” Buildings, vol. 14, no. 8, pp. 1-23, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] Aswathy Soman et al., “Experimental Study on Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Modified with Egg Shell Powder and Nano Silica,” E3S Web of Conferences, vol. 529, pp. 1-11, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Osama Zaid et al., “Evaluating the Impact of Mine Tailings Wastes on the Development of Sustainable Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete,” Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 1-30, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] Sagar Paruthi et al., “Leveraging Silica Fume as a Sustainable Supplementary Cementitious Material for Enhanced Durability and Decarbonization in Concrete,” Advances in Civil Engineering, vol. 2025, no. 1, pp. 1-12, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[10] Md Abu Safayet et al., “Combined Influence of Eggshell Powder and Nylon Fiber on Self-Compacting Concrete Production: Experimental Assessment and Machine Learning Quantifications,” Materials Research Express, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 1-30, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] Mohamed Abdellatief et al., “Influence of Silicate Modulus and Eggshell Powder on the Expansion, Mechanical Properties, and Thermal Conductivity of Lightweight Geopolymer Foam Concrete,” Materials, vol. 18, no. 9, pp. 1-24, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[12] Farhan Fahad et al., “Evaluating the Use of Eggshell Powder and Sawdust ash as Cement Replacements in Sustainable Concrete Development,” Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1-21, 2025.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] Suvash Chandra Paul et al., “Sustainable Cement Mortar Production Using Rice Husk and Eggshell Powder: A Study of Strength, Electrical Resistivity, and Microstructure,” Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1-20, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[14] Monita Olivia et al., “Characteristics of Palm Oil Fuel Ash Concrete Admixed with Precipitated Silica and Silica Fume,” Cleaner Engineering and Technology, vol. 19, pp. 1-10, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] H.S. Wong, and N.R. Buenfeld, “Determining the Water–Cement Ratio, Cement Content, Water Content and Degree of Hydration of Hardened Cement Paste: Method Development and Validation on Paste Samples,” Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 39, no. 10, pp. 957-965, 2009.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[16] A. Kronlöf, “Effect of Very Fine Aggregate on Concrete Strength,” Materials and Structures, vol. 27, pp. 15-25, 1994.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[17] Brian D. Prowell et al., Aggregate Properties and the Performance of Superpave-Designed Hot Mix Asphalt, Transportation Research Board, pp. 1-90, 2005.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[18] Wayne Dodds et al., “Durability Performance of Sustainable Structural Concrete: Effect of Coarse Crushed Concrete Aggregate on Microstructure and Water Ingress,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 145, pp. 183-195, 2017.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[19] Paweł Strzałkowski, and Urszula Kaźmierczak, “Wear and Fragmentation Resistance of Mineral Aggregates - A Review of Micro-Deval and Los Angeles Tests,” Materials, vol. 14, no. 18, pp. 1-16, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[20] Wenjie Ge et al., “Hydration Characteristics, Hydration Products and Microstructure of Reactive Powder Concrete,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 69, pp. 1-29, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]