Replacement of Sand by Quarry Dust in Concrete

Abstract

The role of quarry dust in the construction of building and other structures to eliminate the demand of nature sand by using quarry waste to replace the use of natural sand. We are investigating the potential of using quarry waste and its effect on the strength and workability of concrete. Initially cement concrete cube was studied with various proportion of cement concrete +quarry dust (M20 & M25). The experimental result showed that the additional of quarry dust as fine aggregate ratio of 30%, 40% and 50% was found to enhance the compressive properties. The compressive strength of concrete cubes at the age of 7 and 28 days were obtained at room temperature. These raw materials of concrete, i.e., river sand and gravel, are also struggling to cope with the rapidly growing demand in many areas around the globe. The sources of good quality river sand and gravel are depleting very fast. According to United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) report, “Sand-rarer than one thinks”, published in March2014, sand and gravel has now become the most widely used natural resource on the planet after water. These are now being extracted at a rate far greater than their renewal. Crushed sands, fine aggregate produced from stone crushing, has become very popular in areas where natural sand is not abundantly available or where there is scarcity in the supply of natural sand. The Mumbai-Pune express highway was a project, where there is a difficulty in procurement of natural sand. This made the construction company to use crushed sand for making approximately 20 lakh cum of concrete necessary for the construction. However, such type of sands contains a large amount of micro-fines, i.e., particles finer than 75 microns, which can have an adverse effect on properties of concrete. So proportioning of different raw materials at the time of mix design is very important, when crushed sand is used in concrete The availability of sand at low cost as a fine aggregate in concrete is not suitable and that is the reason to search for an alternative material. Quarry dust satisfies the reason behind the alternative material as a substitute for sand at very low costIt is found that 40% replacement of fine aggregate by quarry dust gives maximum result in strength than normal concrete and then decreases from 50%. The compressive strength is quantified for varying percentage and grades of concrete by replacement of sand with quarry dust.