A comprehensive analytical study on the mechanical properties of concrete containing waste bottom ash as natural aggregate replacement

•Various models were investigated to predict mechanical properties of concrete containing waste bottom ash.•An extensive area of data was utilized for evaluation of analytical models.•A new approach to determine mechanical properties of concrete containing waste bottom ash was suggested.•Concrete containing waste bottom ash has satisfactory engineering performance.•The environmental concern has great influence on recycling. Every year, there are million tons of bottom ash waste in piles and ponds adjoining the power stations threatening the health and safety of our life. In many countries, bottom ash (BA) wastes are identified as hazardous materials. Therefore, innovative, safe, sustainable, environmentally-friendly, and economical solutions to recycle the industrial by-products are indispensable. The special texture of bottom ash makes it a proper replacement for natural aggregates. The consumption of BA in concrete due to different physical and mineralogical characteristics may have a remarkable effect on the mechanical behavior of concrete compared with plain concrete (PC) in the hardened state. Therefore, it is worthwhile to know whether the utilization of all assumptions and relations formulating for PC in current design codes are also valid for concrete containing bottom ash (CCBA). This paper provides a literature review, and includes (a) extensive evaluation and comparison of the current international codes, (b) proposing new models for the mechanical properties of CCBA. The evaluated mechanical properties are compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and flexural strength. An extensive body of data reported by many researchers for CCBA to evaluate the analytical models.