Mechanical strength of slag crushed stone generated at coal-fired thermal power plants

Introduction. Production waste is used in the construction industry worldwide as it helps to cover a considerable portion of the industry’s demand for building materials. Coarse-grained slag deposits (slag crushed stone and sand), formed in the slag washout zone, have more potential for application than other ash and slag mixtures (coarse ASM), but they need more research. Mechanical properties of the slag crushed stone (coarse-grained ASM), formed in the course of coal combustion at Kansk-Achinsk, Kuznetsk coal deposits (in boilers equipped with liquid and dry slag removal facilities) and the application of the slag crushed stone in roadbuilding are considered. Materials and methods. In the course of the research, the crushability and the deformation modulus of particular fractions of slag crushed stone samples (in dry and water-saturated conditions) taken from the dumps of Novosibirsk TPP-3 (that consumes the coal of the Kansk-Achinsk coal mining field) and from Novosibirsk TPP-2 and Seversk TPP (that consume the coal of the Kuznetsk coal mining field) were identified. To assess the factors influencing the mechanical strength of the slag crushed stone, ignition losses, the content of flaky and acicular particles, dust and clay particles and clay lumps was made. Results. The difference in the mechanical strength of samples having different genesis was identified. The graphs obtained in the course of testing were assessed and deformability characteristics were calculated (for materials having different fineness values). The factors influencing the mechanical strength of slag crushed stone were determined. Dependencies between deformation parameters and crushability of the slag crushed stone were obtained. Conclusions. Some mechanical and physical parameters of the slag crushed stone were identified; they were applied to outline potential areas of the slag crushed stone application in road building. The mathematical relationship needed to project the deformation modulus of the slag crushed stone was identified. This relationship will be used to design structures to be made of this material.