Fresh, mechanical, and bibliographic analysis of steel slag in concrete: A review

The use of steel slag (SS) in place of cement or aggregates is a valuable option that reduces CO ₂ emissions and preserves natural resources. Despite its potential, a detailed review is required to collect the relevant updated information and evaluate the benefits and limitations of SS concrete. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive review of SS, including SS physical and chemical properties, its impact on concrete fresh properties, strength properties, environmental impact, and cost benefits. Furthermore, failure patterns, cracking paths, and fracture modes were also studied. Results indicate that SS improved the strength properties and sustainability but decreased the concrete flow properties. Furthermore, SS as a fine aggregate performs better compared to SS as a coarse aggregate, with typical utilization ranging from 20 to 30% as fine aggregates and 60 to 70% as coarse aggregates. Finally, the review proposes recommendations for future research.