Comparative Analysis of Strength of Concrete Produced from Different Fine Aggregates

Abstract

The cost of river sand is much due to excessive cost of transportation from its natural sources. Also huge amount of depletion of these sources leads to environmental problems. Also environmental transportation and other constraints make the availability and use of river sand less attractive, hence it is very necessary now to find substitutes or replacements for river sand. The result for the sieve analysis carried out showed that the aggregates fell within the upper and lower limits of grading requirement. The specific gravity of river sand used was 2.6, while that of grit was determined and the results obtained from two outcomes were 2.23 and 2.45, and the average found was 2.34. The bulk density of river sand was found to be 1550kg/m 3 and that of grit was 1650kg/m 3. The slump obtained from specimens with different W/C of 0.35, 0.45 and 0.60 ranged from 51-86mm. The concrete produced from 100% grit as fine aggregate with a water-cement ratio of 0.45, produced a maximum compressive strength of 29.56 N/mm 3 at the highest curing age in days, while sand alone as fine aggregate in one of the concrete mix, produced the least compressive strength of 17.33 N/mm 3. Hence, the use of grit in construction is considered more economical since it offers optimum utilization and it is commonly available at different quarry sites.