1. CHIRAG R. ODEDRA - Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Subhash University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.
2. Dr. TULESH N. PATEL - Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Subhash University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.
3. Dr. VIMALKUMAR N. PATEL - Professor and Principal, Department of Civil Engineering, B. H. Gardi College of Engineering & Technology,
Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
4. PRASHANT K. BHUVA - Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Subhash University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.
Concrete is the most widely used construction material globally due to its affordability and durability. However, its brittle nature and susceptibility to cracking limits applications requiring high tensile/flexural strength. Incorporating nanoparticles like nano-silica (nS) and nano-alumina (nA) can enhance concrete’s mechanical properties through filler and pozzolanic effects. This study investigated how nS and nA additions at 0-4% cement replacement levels affected key properties - compressive strength, split-tensile strength, flexural strength and elastic modulus - in M30 grade concrete. Results showed 4% nS + 1% nA dosage gave optimal improvements of 36%, 25%, 22% and 21% in compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength and elastic modulus respectively. Increases were due to refined microstructure and interfacial transition zones. While excessive nano addition decreased strengths, overall nS and nA enhanced properties and offer sustainability benefits through extended structure service life. More studies on optimizing nano-dosages are recommended.
Nanoparticles, Sustainable Construction Materials, Nano Concrete, Mechanical Strength Enhancement.