Abstract
Concrete, a widely used construction material, faces challenges such as resource depletion, noise, and dust pollution. Conventional concrete has a reduced lifespan and increased maintenance, with brittleness issues. To address these issues, graphene oxide, an admixture, has been proposed as an alternative binder in cement coarse aggregations. The study uses three types of coarse aggregations which employ coarse aggregates from different sites in Delhi: granite from Vasant Kunj (Phase-2), sandstone from Sarai Madhavpur, and quartzite from Delhi Metro Mall. The study aims to understand the synergistic effects of graphene oxide and aggregates on the mechanical properties of the composite, including compressive, tensile, and flexural strength. Graphene insertion in concrete results in ultra-high performance, with slump values decreasing as the percentage of graphene increases. Sandstone, quartzite, and granite exhibit the slump decrease, with sandstone showing the maximum decrease. Graphene incorporation positively influences compressive strength, with granite showing the most significant improvement. Split tensile strength also shows a notable increase, with granite demonstrating the most significant increase, even at moderate graphene percentages. Flexural strength also shows a substantial increase. This is due to enhanced bonding between aggregate particles and graphene oxide sheets, resulting in heightened tensile strength and improved crack resistance.