Application of Coal Gangue as a Coarse Aggregate in Green Concrete Production: A Review

Among the techniques for converting stacked coal gangue to reusable material, one of the most effective ways is to use coal gangue as a coarse aggregate in green concrete productions. The physical and chemical properties of rock and spontaneous-combustion coal gangue are generally suitable for being used as a coarse aggregate in green concrete. Coal gangue concrete is not recommended to be used in subsurface structures, as its water absorption law would be changed under a large replacement ratio. The mechanical performance of coal gangue concrete is degraded by raising the replacement ratio. Over-low and -high concrete grades are not suggested to be used as coal gangue aggregate, unless extra admixtures or specific methods are used. The influence of coal gangue on the durability of coal gangue concrete is remarkable, resulting from the porous structure of coal gangue that provides more transmission channels for air and liquid in concrete, but is beneficial for thermal insulation. The usage of coal gangue in structural concrete members is still limited. The mechanical behavior of some structural members using coal gangue concrete has been reported. Among them, concrete filled steel tubes are a preferable configuration for using coal gangue concrete, regarding both the mechanical and durability performance.