Effect of Micro Silica on The Fresh and Mechanical Properties of Conventional Concrete

The present era very vast development occurred in the field of construction, specially in concrete technology, Concrete is the most versatile material due to its continuous demand. The present research work focused on one such product, i.e. Micro silica Micro ilica is a highly effective pozzolanic material widely used in modern concrete technology. It is an ultrafine by-product of silicon and ferrosilicon alloy production, characterized by its very small particle size and high amorphous silica content. This study investigates the effects of micro-silica on concrete properties by incorporating it in varying proportions from [5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%] by weight of cement. Key parameters examined include workability, compressive strength, and splitting tensile strength. The results indicate that the improvement is mainly due to its pozzolanic reaction with calcium hydroxide, forming additional calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel, and resulting in a denser and stronger matrix. In fresh concrete, micro-silica improves cohesiveness and reduces segregation and bleeding.