A Comprehensive Review of Experimental Studies on High-performance Concrete Incorporating Industrial By-products

Abstract

This review compiles and analyzes evidence from 25 peer-reviewed experimental investigations published between 2013 and 2025 that examine high-performance concrete (HPC) formulated with industrial and agricultural by-products. Materials such as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), silica fume, rice husk ash (RHA), and steel slag are widely reported to enhance concrete performance while significantly lowering the demand for ordinary Portland cement. Across the reviewed studies, HPC mixtures incorporating these supplementary materials achieved compressive strengths ranging from approximately 40 MPa to over 150 MPa, while simultaneously reducing cement usage by 20–50% and lowering associated CO₂ emissions by roughly 30–50% through pozzolanic reactions and improved particle packing. Many experiments identified optimized ternary combinations—such as blends containing 30% GGBS, 10% silica fume, and 20% fly ash—that produced compressive strengths of 80–100 MPa at 28 days, along with 25–40% reductions in permeability and improved resistance to chloride and sulfate attack according to ASTM durability tests. Additional findings indicate that incorporating steel slag as a full replacement for fine aggregate can increase tensile strength by approximately 10–15%, while certain ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) formulations utilizing entirely waste-derived constituents demonstrate very low shrinkage characteristics. Despite these promising outcomes, several research needs remain evident, particularly the lack of large-scale field validation in tropical environments, limited investigation of alkali–silica reaction (ASR) mitigation, and insufficient integration of such materials within Indian Standard (IS) specifications. Future studies should therefore focus on quaternary binder systems, nano-material modifications, and compatibility with emerging technologies such as 3D-printed concrete, which could further advance sustainable construction practices consistent with modern green building frameworks.