Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are promising for rapid concrete repair but are hindered by excessive drying shrinkage. This study evaluates the efficacy of MgO-based (MEA), CaO-based (CSEA), and calcium sulfoaluminate-based (SEA) expansive agents in mitigating shrinkage and enhancing the performance of slag-fly ash-metakaolin repair mortars. The mechanism of the expansive agents’ impact on reaction products and microstructure was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that increasing the amount of any of the three expansive agents reduces the setting time of the repair mortar. When the CSEA content is 8%, the initial and final setting times of the mortar are 18 min and 32 min, representing reductions of 55% and 46.7%, respectively. This acceleration facilitated superior early-age performance, achieving a 6-hour compressive strength of 25.0 MPa. While thermal stress from rapid hydration slightly compromised long-term compressive strength, CSEA increased the 28-day bond strength to 7.5 MPa by elevating the Ca/Si ratio and densifying the interfacial transition zone. However, the rapid hydration reaction leads to swift gel formation and dehydration within the specimens, releasing substantial heat and resulting in microcracks that affect strength development. MEA exhibit low reactivity in highly alkaline environments, failing to produce sufficient brucite to compensate for shrinkage, thus having a minimal impact on both mechanical strength and drying shrinkage of the specimens. The incorporation of SEA can generate ettringite (AFt) in the initial reaction stages, which improves early strength and reduces drying shrinkage. However, as the reaction progresses, AFt dehydrates and transforms into layered AFm, significantly diminishing the ability to resist shrinkage. This excessive shrinkage results in microcracks, causing a reduction in the later strength of the specimens.

The utilization of sea-sand concrete (SSC) reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars presents a viable solution to address both the scarcity of river sand resources and the corrosion susceptibility of conventional steel reinforcement in marine environments. This study presents a field case study of a stretch of jointed reinforced concrete pavement (JRCP) fabricated with GFRP bars and SSC in a port infrastructure project. Mechanical performance of the GFRPSSC pavement system was investigated through early-age time-dependent behavior observations, vehicle load tests, and numerical analysis. Early-age analysis of the tested pavement section indicated that SSC exhibited greater expansion than river sand concrete (RSC) within the first 5 h after pouring. Additionally, an increased reinforcement ratio of GFRP bars was observed to mitigate concrete shrinkage. The results of vehicle load tests and numerical analysis demonstrate that the GFRP bars maintain relatively low stress level under the design vehicle load, and the stress induced by a single vehicle load is insufficient to cause cracking or failure of the GFRPreinforced pavement. Then, the effects of design parameters, including the arrangement of GFRP bars, the thickness of the pavement slab, and the elastic modulus of the base layer, on the structural behavior of GFRP-SSC pavement were analyzed through a parametric study. Over all, the case study demonstrates that the GFRP-SSC pavement exhibits comparable working performance to steel reinforced RSC pavement, making it a viable alternative for construction of JRCP engineering in coastal and island regions.

Research on the compressive behavior of FRP-confined short columns has predominantly focused on conventional concrete. However, significant differences exist in the mechanical properties between Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) and conventional concrete. Consequently, directly applying analytical models developed for FRP-confined conventional concrete to UHPC structures may lead to substantial errors. To address this issue, this study established a comprehensive database and employed Grey Relational Analysis to identify the factors influencing the ultimate compressive strength of FRP-confined UHPC short columns. Based on the analytical results, a novel predictive model for estimating the ultimate strength of FRP-confined UHPC structures was developed, which significantly enhances computational accuracy. Furthermore, by evaluating and comparing existing constitutive models, the optimal constitutive relationships for UHPC short columns confined with either GFRP or CFRP wraps were identified.

This paper presents a finite element (FE) analysis of the seismic performance of the quick repaired seismic-damaged RC frame under low cyclic loading. The quick repair was realized by applying the wire mesh combined with ultra-high early strength grouting materials. The FE model was established based on the constitutive relationship of each materials and validated against the previous experimental results in the literature. The simulated results indicated that the repair could effectively exert the seismic performance of RC frame. Then, the FE parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of studied parameters on the seismic performance of the quick repaired seismic-damaged RC frame models. The analyzed parameters included the axial compressive ratio of columns, the thickness and the height of the repair layer. The numerical analysis showed that the seismic performance of quick repaired seismic-damaged RC frame could be enhanced by the certain increase of the axial compressive ratio. The thickness and height of the repair layer exhibited limited influence on the seismic performance of the RC frame. The paper reported the design suggestions for the quick repaired damaged RC frame.

Steel slag aggregate concrete (SAC) is widely recognized as a high-performance and sustainable construction material. However, its broader structural application has been impeded by the limited development of reliable constitutive models. Building upon the well-established non-uniform hardening plasticity theory, this study proposes a comprehensive theoretical framework to establish a stress-strain relationship model for SAC under complex stress states. To this end, a multiaxial elastoplastic constitutive model for SAC is developed through the following steps: (1) The Guo-Wang failure criterion is employed as the bounding surface, from which a yield criterion is formulated to capture the characteristic mechanical responses of SAC under multiaxial loading; (2) Based on fundamental plasticity theory, the stress-strain relationship is derived by integrating the proposed yield function with a non-associated flow rule using a Drucker-Prager-type plastic potential function, while ensuring consistency conditions are satisfied; (3) A parameter calibration methodology is introduced and applied using experimental data from uniaxial and multiaxial tests on SAC; (4) A numerical implementation scheme is developed in MATLAB 2024a, and the model is validated through computational simulations. The validation results confirm that the proposed model reliably captures the stress-strain behavior of SAC under complex loading conditions. Overall, this study not only delivers a robust multiaxial constitutive model for SAC, but also offers a systematic modeling approach that may serve as a reference for the further development of constitutive theories for steel slag-based concretes and their broader application in structural engineering.

Addressing the urgent need for sustainable construction materials due to the high carbon footprint of the cement industry, geopolymers have been identified as a viable alternative to traditional cementitious materials in concrete structures. In this context, this study focuses on the reparability of the geopolymer recycled concrete structure. Specifically, repair work was undertaken on a previously damaged, half-scale, 2-story ternary composite geopolymer recycled concrete structure containing recycled fireclay brick aggregates (GRA-RFBAC) frame structure. The repairs utilized epoxy resin to restore the structural performance and the structure was subjected to a series of ground motions through shake table testing. The performance of the repaired structure was compared to that of the original structure before repairs. It was found that the repaired structure exhibited a 45 % functionality loss, better than the original's 50 % functionality loss under the same conditions. Additionally, the repaired structure showed less visible damage, particularly less spalling. The repaired structure recovered structural performance even at moderate seismic levels. Although the repairs led to more uniform residual drift ratios, they did not fully restore the original structure's stiffness. The repaired structure maintained comparable base shear forces and drift ratios to the original, despite a 23.6 % base shear increase in the original during the aftershock. Moreover, reparability evaluation methods were developed based on the maximum inter-story drift ratio and the residual inter-story drift ratio. These methods could evaluate the reparability probabilities of GRA-RFBAC structures at different performance levels based on nonlinear time-history analysis.

Given the low reactivity and difficulty in large-scale utilization of lithium slag (LS), this study successfully synthesized highly reactive alkali-fused LS(ALS) through NaOH treatment and thermal activation, and analyzed the mechanism behind its enhanced reactivity. The results indicate that, under alkali erosion and high-temperature conditions, the Si-O and Al-O bonds within the LS become more susceptible to breaking. The non-bridging oxygen content increased from 37.8 % to 47.1 %, and the amorphous phase content rose from 15.9 % to 54.3 %. Consequently, more Si4+ and Al3+ can dissolve in an alkaline environment, enhancing reactivity. Based on this, a one-part geopolymer (OPG) was prepared for the first time by gradually replacing slag with ALS. The results showed that the incorporation of ALS extended the setting time of the OPG but reduced its compressive strength. At a 60 % substitution level, the initial setting time of the OPG was 81 minutes, and the compressive strength after 28 days of curing reached 50.6 MPa. Through XRD, SEM, and TG analysis, it was evident that the primary product of the OPG is N(C)-A-S-H gel. Since the reactivity of ALS remains lower than that of slag, increasing the proportion of ALS in the geopolymer system consumed more alkali while reducing the formation of N(C)-A-S-H gel, thus decreasing the compressive strength of the OPG. However, the slight incorporation of ALS did not significantly reduce the strength of OPG and effectively improved the setting time of the geopolymer. This reduction in slag consumption while promoting the resource utilization of LS in cementitious materials is beneficial.

With the continuous improvement of construction quality and operation maintenance requirements for highway bridges in China, crack control during bridge construction has become particularly important. Significant temperature difference stress will be generated inside the bridge, leading to cracks. This article applies the principle of finite element analysis to analyze the temperature stress of the Wuhan Jingzhou Expressway Hanbei River No.2 Extra Large Bridge, and verifies that the temperature stress of the bridge meets the requirements of the specifications under the most unfavorable conditions. Further suggestions from the aspects of design and construction are proposed as follows: appropriately increase the net distance between pipelines and between pipelines and the lower edge, and prohibit the implementation of key construction pouring or key parts such as closure section construction when the temperature difference between day and night is large. This not only provides important guidance for the design and construction of large-span prestressed concrete continuous beam bridges, but also provides theoretical support and practical reference for crack prevention and control in similar bridge structures.

As an industrial by-product of the lithium extraction process from spodumene, lithium slag (LS) is less reactive, rendering it a chemically infeasible binder. In this study, a thermal activation approach was employed to enhance the reactivity of LS. The underlying mechanisms of LS's thermal activation at various temperatures were thoroughly explored through XRD and ICP. The results indicated that alterations in the aluminosilicate composition of LS occurred during calcination between 500 °C and 900 °C, leading to the transformation of spodumene into amorphous forms. Particularly noteworthy was the initial increase in the LS amorphous phase content with increasing temperature, followed by a subsequent decline. Building upon these findings, a lithium slag geopolymer (LSG) was prepared via alkali activation, using the activated LS as the exclusive precursor. It was observed that elevating the content of active components in LS enhanced the geopolymerization reactions, resulting in an improved mechanical strength of LSG. Remarkably, after 28 days of aging, geopolymer specimens prepared from LS calcined at 700 °C exhibited a compressive strength of 36.0 MPa. Combining these results with FTIR and SEM-EDS analyses, it becomes evident that suitable calcination temperatures empower LS to release a higher quantity of silicon and aluminum ions. These ions play a significant role in the geopolymerization process, leading to the formation of an amorphous sodium (calcium) aluminosilicate hydrate (N(C)-A-S-H) gel. This gel acts as a binder, tightly binding the residual solid particles, and thus forming a denser microstructure.

This study investigated the effect of using rice husk ash (RHA) as replacement of cement (i.e., replacement ratios of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) on the durability of natural aggregate concrete (NAC) and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). We examined the freeze-thaw resistance, chloride penetration resistance, and carbonation resistance of NAC and RAC (with 50% recycled coarse aggregate replacement ratio). It was found that during the freeze-thaw process, both NAC and RAC showed an overall weight increase, which was further enhanced by the addition of RHA. Meanwhile, the compressive strength of NAC was reduced more obviously than that of RAC after 100 freeze-thaw cycles. A replacement of 10% cement with RHA resulted in larger reduction in strength loss for NAC (by 36%) compared to RAC (by 4%). As the RHA replacement ratio increased, the chloride penetration resistance of RACs was improved more rapidly than that of NACs, and the difference in the total charge passed between NACs and RACs also decreased considerably. In addition, an increase in the RHA replacement ratio led to an increase in the carbonation coefficient of NAC. Conversely, in the case of RAC, the carbonation coefficient displayed an initial decrease at a 10% RHA replacement ratio, followed by a subsequent upward trend, indicating a positive impact of RHA on preventing carbonation for RAC.

Lithium slag (LS) exhibits potential as a silica-alumina precursor for geopolymer synthesis, yet its limited reactivity poses challenges for widespread application in one-part geopolymers. This study employs alkali fusion activation to enhance LS reactivity and investigates the underlying mechanisms using XRD, FTIR, and ICP techniques. Results reveal that post-alkali fusion treatment transforms spodumene and quartz within LS into amorphous phases, significantly increasing the amorphous content from 15.9% to 53.1%. However, excessive inclusion of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) during alkali fusion reduces the amorphous phase content. Alkali fusion also enhances LS leaching concentration in an alkaline solution, but an overly abundant incorporation of NaOH adversely affects Si and Al leaching. Within specific parameters, increasing the alkali solution concentration and dissolution temperature enhances Si and Al leaching from LS. Subsequently, alkali-fused LS, along with slag and fly ash, is utilized to fabricate a one-part geopolymer that exhibits outstanding compressive strength. Results indicate that the compressive strength of alkali-fused LS geopolymer consistently surpasses that of the initial LS geopolymer during the curing period, reaching 50.6 MPa after 28 days. Alkali fusion effectively raises the pH of the geopolymer pore solution, promoting the formation of N(C)-A-S-H gel. The overall structure of the geopolymer prepared from alkali-fused LS is dense, with unreacted particles covered by a flocculent gel. However, excessive NaOH incorporation during alkali fusion reduces LS reactivity, diminishing the formation of N(C)-A-S-H gel. Simultaneously, the alkaline environment resulting from excessive NaOH facilitates carbonation reactions in geopolymer samples, thereby reducing compressive strength.

Lithium slag (LS) is a waste residue generated during lithium extraction, posing significant environmental challenge due to its extensive accumulation. This study proposes a method of utilizing thermally activated LS as the sole precursor for geopolymer synthesis. The thermal activation mechanism of LS was investigated using XRD, FTIR, ICP, and SEM techniques, while exploring the optimal composition for LS geopolymers(LSG). The research revealed that heating at 700 °C increased the amorphous content of LS from 15.9 % to 48.1 %, altering the chemical structure of its aluminosilicates and enhancing its leaching capacity in alkaline environments, thereby boosting its reactivity. The activator modulus and alkali equivalent were found to significantly influence the strength and microstructure of LSG. As the modulus increased from 1.0 to 1.4, geopolymer strength initially rose before declining, whereas strength progressively increased with alkali equivalent from 0.10 to 0.16. The geopolymer synthesized with a modulus of 1.2 and alkali equivalent of 0.16 exhibited the highest compressive strength of 53.1 MPa after 28 days. Test results indicated that the internal structure of LSG primarily comprised unreacted particles, N(C)-A-S-H gel, and microcracks. The increased alkali equivalent facilitated the dissolution of Si4+ and Al3+ within LS, intensifying geopolymerization to produce more N(C)-A-S-H gel, thereby densifying the structure and significantly enhancing compressive strength. This study elucidates the mechanism by which high-temperature calcination enhances LS reactivity, as well as the impact of activator on compressive strength and microstructural properties of LSG, offering new insights into the engineering applications of LS in high-performance cementitious materials.

A ternary geopolymer concrete with recycled aggregates containing recycled fireclay brick aggregates (GRA-RFBAC) frame structure was proposed in this paper. The ternary binder material of GRA-RFBAC was created by combining industrial by-products (ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), recycled fireclay brick powder (RFBP), and fly ash (FA)) with an alkali-activated solution. A two-story, one-bay, 1/2-scale GRA-RFBAC frame was fabricated according to the seismic design codes of China and subjected to shaking table tests using a series of ground motion excitations. For comparison, an identically dimensioned 1:2 scale reinforced Portland cement-based concrete (RC) frame from a previous study was also evaluated. This study primarily focuses on the observations from shaking table tests of the GRA-RFBAC frame, detailing its dynamic characteristics, acceleration and displacement responses and the progression of damage. The finding indicated that the GRA-RFBAC frame exhibited a similar damage pattern to the RC frame under seismic loading, with plastic hinges initially appearing at the beam ends of the first floor and damage predominantly localized to this floor. However, the GRA-RFBAC frame demonstrated enhanced stiffness and superior seismic performance, a testament to the potential of geopolymer materials in seismic-resistant construction. Moreover, the GRA-RFBAC frame maintained structural integrity under extreme seismic conditions, even though the maximum inter-story drift angle (MIDA) exceeded the 1/50 threshold for 9-degree and higher rare earthquakes. The finite element model proposed for the GRA-RFBAC frame in this study accurately predicted the specimen's responses within an acceptable margin of error.

In order to achieve seismic -resistant structures cast from green building materials, a new kind of column, ternary composite geopolymer concrete with recycled aggregates containing recycled fireclay brick aggregates (GRA-RFBAC) column, was proposed in this paper. The ternary binder material in GRA-RFBAC was produced by the combination of industrial by-products (ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), recycled fireclay brick powder (RFBP), and fly ash (FA)) and alkali -activated solution. Cyclic loading tests of five reinforced GRA-RFBAC columns, each with a shear -to -span ratio of 3.07, were conducted to investigate the seismic performance. The influence of the recycled aggregate containing recycled fireclay brick aggregate (RA-RFBA) replacement ratio, stirrup spacing, and axial compression ratio on the seismic performance of GRA-RFBAC columns was discussed. The results indicated that all specimens showed similar flexural failure modes under cyclic loading. The first cracking of concrete occurred within the drift ratio range of 0.18%-0.41%, the failure drift ratio varied from 3.27% to 4.11%, and the peak load of the specimens ranged from 237.50 kN to 288.87 kN. Although increasing the RA-RFBA replacement ratio led to a decrease in both the bearing capacity and lateral stiffness of the columns, the GRA-RFBAC columns showed comparable or even better seismic performance than Portland cement concrete columns. Moreover, a prediction model for the skeleton curve of GRARFBAC columns was proposed and verified by comparing the prediction results with the test results.

To advance the application of steel slag aggregate concrete (SAC) in civil engineering, this study introduces a comprehensive experimental program to explore the failure mode, strength, deformation, and failure criteria of SAC under multiaxial stress conditions. In this investigation, SAC specimens containing 50% stabilised steel slag as a coarse aggregate were examined for mechanical behaviour (e.g. stress–strain relationships) under diverse loading scenarios, including uniaxial tensile and compressive loadings, biaxial compression, and true triaxial compression loadings. Subsequently, three distinct failure criteria (i.e. the Ottosen criterion [1], William–Warnke criterion [2], and Guo criterion [3]) for SAC were formulated and authenticated based on the experimental outcomes. The results showed varied failure modes in the SAC, such as prism type, splitting tensile, sheet-like tensile, and oblique shear, which depended on the stress state of the specimen during failure. A significant elevation in the ultimate strength and deformation of SAC specimens was observed, with an increment in the first-to-third principal stress ratio (σ1/σ3). Furthermore, the failure criterion introduced by Guo was validated as adept at reproducing all geometric characteristics of the concrete failure surface and precisely forecasting SAC’s ultimate strength of the SAC. Overall, this investigation proposed a reliable failure criterion based on true triaxial test data that can not only describe the multiaxial strength characteristics of SAC but also provide design advice for the applications of SAC in engineering structures.

In this study, the axial compressive behaviors of steel reinforced ternary composite geopolymer recycled fireclay brick aggregates concrete columns were investigated. The ternary binder material used in this study was produced by the combination of industrial by-products (i.e., granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), recycled fireclay brick powder (RFBP), and fly ash (FA)) and alkali-activated solution. A total of 60 square steel reinforced composite columns (with a 200-mm side length and 600-mm height) were tested under axial compression. The tested variables included the mix proportion of ternary composite geopolymer concrete with recycled aggregates containing recycled fireclay brick aggregates (GRA-RFBAC), the recycled coarse aggregate replacement ratios (0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%), the longitudinal reinforcement ratios (1.13%, 2.01%), and the hoop stirrup reinforcement ratios (0.81%, 1.62%). Each group contained three identical samples. The ductility, failure mode, and axial load-bearing capacity of the columns were recorded and analyzed. The experimental results revealed that the damage progression and patterns of steel reinforced GRA-RFBAC columns were similar to those of ordinary Portland cement based recycled concrete columns. The ultimate bearing capacity of steel reinforced GRA-RFBAC columns decreased with an increasing replacement ratio of recycled coarse aggregate and increased with an increasing reinforcement ratio of longitudinal and hoop stirrups. Meanwhile, the stress-strain model of steel reinforced GRA-RFBAC columns under axial compression was proposed based on the experimental results. The present study suggests an efficient and environmental-friendly compression member.

•The RA-RFBA, RFBP and other industrial waste (i.e. GGBS and FA) were used in ternary composite geopolymer concrete.•The effects of mix proportion of GRA-RFBAC, replacement ratio of RA-RFBA and replacement ratio of RFBP on the workability and mechanical properties of GRA-RFBAC were studied experimentally.•A suitable RFBP replacement ratio had a positive effect on the workability and mechanical properties of the GRA-RFBAC.•A stress-strain relationship model of GRA-RFBAC was proposed.Abstract.

This study investigated the effects of the replacement ratio of natural aggregates (NAs) by recycled aggregate (RAs), the replacement ratio of cement by rice husk ash (RHA), and their interaction on compressive properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). The RAs used consisted of 37.5 wt% recycled brick aggregates and 62.5 wt% recycled concrete aggregates from construction and demolition waste. To optimise the properties of RAC mixture, a full factorial design of experiment was applied in designing the concrete mixture proportion. The two factors considered were: the replacement ratio (wt.%) of RA with five levels (0%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 100%) and the replacement ratio (wt.%) of RHA with four levels (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%). Axial compression tests based on the full factorial experiment were conducted on cubic and prismatic samples at 28 days to evaluate their compressive properties. In addition, further cubic concrete groups were also tested in axial compression at different concrete ages (i.e., 3, 7, 28, 56 and 91 days) to understand the effect of concrete age on the compressive strength. Statistical analyses including ANOVA, post-hoc pairwise comparisons and effect size (Cohen's d) computation were performed to evaluate the experimental results. The results indicated that the compressive strength of concrete at 28 days was significantly affected by the replacement ratio of RA and RHA (both p-values <0.0001), as well as their interaction (p-value = 0.0001). For the four different replacement ratios (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) of RHA considered in this study, the optimised ratio was 10%, which resulted in 0.4% and 4.9% increases in compressive strength of NAC and RAC (RA replacement ratio = 100%), respectively. RHA contributed more to the strength improvement of RAC than to that of NAC, both at 28 days and at 91 days. A new compressive strength model was developed for concrete containing RAs and RHA (or for other supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash, silica fume, metakaolin and ground granulated blast slag). The validation with the experimental results from the literature showed a good accuracy of this model for concrete strength prediction, with 4.45% mean absolute percentage error and 2.3 root mean square error.

Urban engineering construction represents the physical construction aspects of urban areas and is recognized as an important carrier for green city. With the rapid pace of urbanization, the conventional construction mode is no longer sufficient to meet the requirements of achieving a beautiful China. As a result, promoting the green development for urban engineering construction (GDUC) has become an vital initiative to facilitate the green transformation and sustainable development of cities. This paper adopts the comprehensive evaluation model and super-efficiency slacks-based measure model to evaluate and demonstrate the status and efficiency of GDUC in the Mid-Low reaches of Yangtze River (MLRYR) from 2011 to 2020. The results show a consistent increase in both the status and efficiency of GDUC in the MLRYR during the study period, with a more noticeable changes observed in status than efficiency. In addition, the development of status exhibits distinct phases on the time scale, while the development of efficiency shows prominent differences on the spatial scale. The level stages and significant factors of GDUC are analyzed through a comprehensive evaluation considering two dimensions: status and efficiency. Given these results, in order to further promote the level of regional GDUC in China, several countermeasures and suggestions are put forward from the following aspects: perfecting the status of urban physical construction, enhancing the efficiency of engineering economic production, and strengthening communication and collaboration within urban regions.

A large-scale utilization of steel slag as an aggregate in green concrete industry has been hindered by steel slag's inherent volume instability. This study presents a volume stability modification procedure to develop autoclaved steel slag aggregates (ASA), investigating ASA's characteristics and the performance of concrete made with ASA. A total of seven concrete mixes with varying ASA and original steel slag aggregate (OSA) substitution ratios (0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%) was assessed for expansibility, mechanical properties (i.e. compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, axial compression behavior), and durability performance under wetting and drying cycles. The study shows that autoclaving treatments significantly changed the characteristics of steel slag aggregates: the fCaO content, water absorption, and crushing value were reduced by 84%, 41%, and 22%, respectively. Concrete containing ASA demonstrated lower workability, higher apparent density, greater values in both compressive and splitting tensile strength, and satisfactory durability performance under wetting and drying cycles compared to natural aggregate concrete (NAC). An optimal ASA replacement ratio of 50% led to enhancements in compressive strength, split tensile strength, and elastic modulus by 33.2%, 24.4%, and 20%, respectively, while reducing compression toughness by 16%. Overall, this study introduced a feasible approach for utilizing steel slag to produce high-quality aggregates for green concrete application.