Análise da incorporação de escória de alto forno em misturas álcali-ativadas de terra compactada

Abstract

In order to understand the behavior of Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) in mixtures intended for the production of compacted earth elements, this study was developed using proportions of raw soil, BFS, and sodium hydroxide, considering applications in rammed-earth walls. The investigation involved material characterization, specimen preparation, and the analysis of mechanical and visual performance. The BFS used, originating from a steelmaking plant in Corumbá, MS, was incorporated at a 10% content, while the alkaline activator (NaOH) was applied at a concentration of 3%, based on previously studied values. Cylindrical specimens with dimensions of 5 × 10 cm were evaluated at 7 and 21 days for compressive strength and monitored visually after curing at 30 °C. The results showed that the addition of slag, combined with the alkaline activator, significantly improved the performance of the mixtures: at seven days, while natural soil exhibited an average strength of 0.20 MPa, the formulations containing BFS reached up to 2.94 MPa. Although low-intensity efflorescence was observed on the specimen surfaces, the overall results indicate the technical viability of using slag as a regional input to enhance compacted earth construction systems.