River Sand Research Articles

Avaliação de concretos produzidos com variadas areias de mineração: em busca de dosagens de alto desempenho e sustentáveis

The sand from the processing of iron ore has been widely used in civil construction in Brazil, especially in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and São Paulo. It is used as fine aggregate in the production of mortars, cement products and concrete. With the possibility of producing new sand in several iron ore mines in the state of Minas Gerais, the present study aimed to develop and analyze concrete dosages with various ore sands and sands present in the industrial market in the Belo Horizonte region. The replacement of natural river sand with mining sand in concrete dosages was evaluated and the Abrams curves were analyzed for the various dosages developed. It was possible to observe a performance gain in the dosages carried out with ore sands, with a reduction of up to 7% in cement consumption in the mixes. Thus, it can be concluded that the use of mining sand in the production of concrete is efficient, with technical and productive gains, promoting sustainable construction, reducing CO2 and promoting the circular economy in the construction chain.

A comprehensive study on sustainable development of pavement quality concrete utilising fly-ash and copper slag

Huge requirement of aggregates and cement for the construction of a large network of concrete pavements, scarcity of natural resources, degradation of river beds due to unabated extraction of river sand (RS), and increasing generation of industrial wastes, motivate researchers to explore the utilisation of industrial wastes like fly ash (FA) and copper slag (CS) as replacement of OPC and RS respectively in the production of pavement quality concrete (PQC). Earlier studies have reported on the utilisation of these wastes independently for cheap and sustainable concrete. Though all such studies have been found to result in positive and improved results of PQC mixes, it is important to study the strength and durability aspects of PQC mixes containing these two waste materials together, along with cost and environmental impacts in view of ensuring sustainability. To fulfill this objective, forty-eight samples of M40 and M50 grade PQC mixes were prepared by using FA and CS in varying proportions. Compressive and flexural strength tests were conducted to satisfy the strength criteria of PQC mixes. Various durability tests conducted on PQC mixes included accelerated carbonation resistance, chloride resistance, sorptivity, slake durability and abrasion resistance. It is concluded from this study that all PQC mixes with 20% FA and 100% CS replacements have higher compressive and flexural strength as compared with the control mix. The durability characteristics such as resistance to chloride ion penetration, sorptivity value, slake durability and abrasion resistance, of PQC mixes improved. The cost of PQC slab of a a typical design thickness, made with CS and FA was found to decrease by 21%. The environmental factors like global warming potential (GWP) and embodied energy (EE) decreased by 27% and 25.8%, respectively. Considering the strength and durability aspects, cost and environmental impact, replacements OPC and RS by 20% FA and 100% CS respectively, contribute to development of the best satisfying and sustainable PQC mix for paving applications. This study may lead to a sustainable solution for concrete pavement applications which may preserve natural resources, reduce the waste disposal concerns, maintain ecology, and reduce the carbon footprint for future generations.

Experimental study on the flexural behavior of ferrocement slab panels with supplementary cementitious silica fume and fiber materials

Ferrocement is a composite construction material with slender sections or panels, a rich cementitious mortar, and steel wire mesh as its principal reinforcing agent. The mortar matrix is designed to achieve optimal strength, density, impermeability, and workability, minimizing void formation and preventing map cracking. A study evaluated the workability and flexural strength of mortars prepared using three types of fine aggregates: Badarpur sand, Yamuna River sand, and Kilned Brick Powder. The mortar classifications included conventional mortar compositions (MCS), mortars with flyash and Silica Fume (MFSS), and mortars with flyash, silica fume, and human hair (MFSHS). The results showed that mixes incorporating these materials significantly improved workability, with MFSS-2 (Portland cement, Yamuna sand, plus 10% FA and 6% SF) showing the highest increase (42.50%). The high-strength formulations with supplementary materials were superior in terms of stiffness and structural integrity, with MFSHS-1 (Portland cement, Badarpur sand, 10% FA, 6% SF, and 1% HH fiber) showing the least deflection for any given load. The addition of 1% human hair fibers in the mortar matrix improved flexural strength in panels, acting as micro-reinforcements, enhancing the tensile strength alongwith mortar ductility.

Development and performance analysis of PVA-polyester fiber reinforced cementitious composites incorporating manufactured sand

Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) have acquired significant attention due to their potential to enhance structural infrastructure due to their superior ductility and crack resistance. However, the development of optimal ECC mixes is crucial for improving the long-term performance of load-bearing systems while addressing environmental challenges. The over-exploitation of river sand leads to significant riverbed depletion and using high-price fibers increases the overall cost of the ECC, necessitating the search for low-cost-sustainable alternatives. This study explored the use of manufactured sand (MS) and a hybrid blend of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyester fibers in ECC to enhance their mechanical properties and sustainability. The findings indicate that integrating fiber blends moderately reduced the slump flow but showed satisfactory workability in all the mixes. A substantial improvement in the compressive strength was observed with MS replacing river sand, showing an increase between 18% and 30%. Tensile tests revealed notable differences in performance due to fiber blending and MS substitution. Durability assessments demonstrated that ECC mixes with MS and polyester fibers experienced reduced drying shrinkage due to enhanced matrix-aggregate bonding and fiber-matrix interaction. Nevertheless, permeable voids and water absorption levels were slightly increased.

Steel Slag as Sand Replacement in Concrete: A Systematic Review of Fresh, Mechanical, and Durability Properties

The sand crisis has received growing attention in recent years, and a number of substitutes have been examined by researchers in order to reduce the use of river sand. Typical substitutes are industrial by‐products that would otherwise require land for waste disposal. Steel slag (SS) is one such by‐product that can be used as a replacement for alluvial sand in concrete. A comprehensive review of the effects of sand replacement by SS on physical, mechanical, and durability properties of concrete is presented in this study. The primary objectives of this study are to (1) evaluate the impact of varying proportions of SS as a sand substitute on the mechanical and durability properties of concrete, (2) identify the optimal percentage of SS replacement to achieve enhanced performance, and (3) address the existing knowledge gap regarding the sustainability of using SS in concrete applications. A systematic review of the available data revealed the promising application of SS as sand replacement in concrete with enhanced concrete strength and durability. Considering all aspects of concrete applications, the optimum level of SS replacement is reported in a range from 30% to 60%, meeting concrete’s physical, mechanical, and durability expectations. The findings also show further research is needed to determine the durability of SS concrete (SSC) for different intended applications.

Lateritic Soil Stabilization using Granular Materials; a Comparative Study

Soil mixtures have been used extensively in developed countries to construct great lengths of road when other materials like cement and lime were not either available, developed or widely used. Laterite being readily available in many places can be mixed with sand or quarry dust to improve its strength, stability and other properties for this purpose.This research work involves the improvement of the engineering properties of three samples of laterite soil by stabilization with quarry dust or with sharp river sand. The paper sets out to investigate and compare the improvement in the relevant properties of three samples of laterites when they are mixed with sand or quarry dust and compacted using different compactive efforts (British Standard Light – BSL and British Standard Heavy- BSH). The three samples used were collected at different locations in Awka, Anambra state. The tests carried out include: moisture content, specific gravity, grain size distribution, Atterberg’s limits, compaction and unconfined compressive strength tests both before and after adding quarry dust or sharp river sand at varying percentages (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%). The results obtained showed that for all types of laterites tested, the increase in the proportion of sand or quarry dust to laterites has the effect of increasing the maximum dry density, specific gravity and reducing the optimum moisture content, the unconfined compressive strength and energy absorption capacity. The optimum sand or quarry dust percentage for maximizing most of the parameters measured was found to be between 30% and 40% of the admixture. Comparison of the results obtained shows that quarry dust has a greater impact in the improvement of the strength of the natural soil than sand

A Review of River Sand Mining: Methods, Impacts, and Implications

A Review of River Sand Mining: Methods, Impacts, and Implications

Effect of superfine river sand on the rheological and mechanical properties of supersulfated cement

Effect of superfine river sand on the rheological and mechanical properties of supersulfated cement

Sustainable cooling solutions: Designing a zero-energy chamber with local materials in Eritrea

Tomatoes are one of the most widely consumed vegetables globally, yet they are also among the most perishable agricultural products, resulting in significant losses. In Eritrea, a low-income country, tomatoes hold great importance as a vital vegetable crop. To prolong the shelf life of tomatoes and other vegetables, controlled storage conditions, including temperature and humidity management, are essential. However, many small-scale farmers in Eritrea cannot afford expensive storage equipment for their harvested crops. This research aims to address this challenge by exploring the use of a zero-energy cooling chamber to extend the shelf life of raw tomatoes. The cooling achieved by this chamber also results in getting high relative humidity of the air in the cooling chamber from which the evaporation takes place relative to ambient air. A four side rectangular storage with total 0.175 cubic meter capacity, made of bricks; fine bed river sand, jute pad, PVC pipe having 16mm nominal diameter and it is reshaped in to square shape the edges connected by elbow connector placed at the upper center of cavity for keeping wet the sand with dimension of 78 x 78cm, a water tank with capacity of 20 litres connected to perforated PVC pipe for supplying water to the system. Results of the transient performance tests revealed that the zero energy cooling chamber storage temperature varied from ambient temperature by 17-20 oC. The environmental temperature at the period of test ranged over 25-32 oC. After construction of the structure, two stages (red and green mature) of sanmarzano variety tomato were tested. Data at 1, 5, 8,11,23,28 days was recorded and evaluated for firmness, color, general observation, and weight loss. As a result, those stored outside the chamber in ambient environment was in poor state and stayed only for 8 days in case of red tomatoes and 11 days in case of green mature tomato respectively, whereas tomato stored inside ZECC remained fresh at 23 and 28 days red ripe and green mature respectively.

Influence of Constituents on Strength and Flowability in Ultra High-Performance Concrete

Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) boasts superior features like excellent flowability, mechanical properties, and durability. These features are achieved by adopting low water-to-binder ratio (w/b), good particle packing density and high dosage of steel fibers. This study mainly focused on the development of the optimized UHPC mixes by considering locally available materials. The impact of different composition of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with different CaO/SiO2 ratio (4.31, 4.37, 4.49, 4.53, 4.60 and 4.82) on the compressive strength and flowability were investigated to ensure versatility across projects. The compressive strength of UHPC mixes by using various types of fine aggregates namely, manufactured sand, standard sand, river sand and quartz sand were also investigated. Also, the compressive strength as well as flowability of UHPC were studied by varying the fiber content of 0%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3%. The results reveal that the compatibility of OPCs with varying CaO/SiO2 ratios has minimal impact, whereas different sand types significantly influence both flowability and compressive strength of UHPC mixes. Considering cost, availability & performance, M Sand and quartz sand can be used for the development of UHPC. Also, observed that increase in fiber content enhances the compressive strength while negatively influencing the flowability.

Substitution of River Sand with Fly Ash in Self-Compacting Concrete by Utilizing Novel Admixture

This study investigates the substitution of river sand with respect to fly ash in self-compacting concrete (SCC) and its performance on workability, strength, and durability. Various mix designs were assessed through L-box, V-funnel and slump cone test to determine fresh concrete properties. The results indicated that higher fly ash content significantly improved the passing and filling abilities of SCC, as evidenced by increased L-box blocking ratios and larger slump flow measurements, albeit with a higher segregation tendency. The mix with 75% fly ash and 25% river sand (FA75-RS25) demonstrated the best overall performance, showing superior passing ability (L-box ratio of 0.87), excellent filling ability (slump flow of 700 mm), and acceptable segregation resistance. This mix also achieved the highest split tensile, flexural, and compressive strengths, outperforming the control mix (FA00-RS100). Flexural strength results for the FA75-RS25 mix showed significant improvements over time, with values of 7.67 MPa at 28 days, 10.33 MPa at 56 days, and 11.17 MPa at 90 days, compared to the control mix which achieved 5.83 MPa, 7.50 MPa, and 8.17 MPa, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of fly ash as a viable and sustainable substitute for river sand in SCC, enhancing performance and supporting sustainable construction practices. Further research is recommended to explore additional mechanical properties and long-term durability aspects of fly ash-incorporated SCC.

Investigating Mechanical Properties of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer Concrete Optimized with Wastepaper Ash and Plastic Granules

This study develops an environmentally friendly geopolymer concrete (GPC) using wastepaper ash (WPA) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) granules, addressing environmental challenges such as wastepaper and HDPE disposal and CO2emissions from cement production. WPA was produced by incinerating wastepaper at 550 °C for one hour and used as a partial replacement for MK in ratios of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 100%, while HDPE granules replaced river sand in ratios from 1% to 5%. The results showed that the use of 30% WPA resulted in a compressive strength (CS) of 35.38 MPa, which was significantly higher than the control sample's CS of 31.62 MPa. The use of 30% WPA increased slump due to lower water demand. The combination of 3% HDPE and 30% WPA further enhanced the mechanical properties, resulting in a CS of 36.54 MPa, representing a 15.5% increase over the control. However, the addition of 3% HDPE and 30% WPA reduced the slump, attributed to the increased friction from the HDPE granules. Advanced analyses, including SEM, EDX, and XRD, confirmed a refined pore structure and increased geopolymerization in the treated GPC. It is novel to optimize WPA and HDPE as waste products in the production of MK-based GPC. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-SP2024-010-011 Full Text: PDF

Life Cycle Assessment of End-of-Life Tire Disposal Methods and Potential Integration of Recycled Crumb Rubber in Cement Composites

Globally, 1.5 billion annual tire outputs generate a substantial volume of end-of-life tires (ELTs), creating significant environmental challenges. Despite increased recovery rates, ELT management costs in Europe underscore the need for proactive strategies to mitigate environmental and health risks. This study comprehensively evaluates the environmental impact of disposal methods, including landfilling, incineration, and crumb rubber production, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) via the OpenLCA software 2.0.2. While incineration is sometimes identified as a disposal method, unprocessed scrap tires have potential applications in civil engineering that can better align with sustainability goals. Detailed ELT composition analysis reveals significant recycling potential, with car and truck tires containing 10–20% steel fiber content, less than 1–8% textile fibers, and approximately 80% natural and synthetic rubber content. Recycling 1 ton of ELTs saves an estimated 1.4–1.6 tons of CO2 Eq. compared to incineration. Mechanical recycling and application of recycled crumb rubber in concrete show significant environmental advantages, reducing mass density by approximately 55% and enhancing ductility by up to 40%, according to material testing results. These properties make crumb rubber particularly suitable for acoustic and resilient applications. Additionally, its elasticity and durability offer effective solutions for shoreline reinforcement, mitigating erosion and providing stability during flooding events. When used as a replacement for river sand in cement composites, crumb rubber contributes to a 24.06% reduction in CO2 emissions, highlighting its potential for environmentally friendly construction.

Impact of Graphite-Associated Waste as a Sustainable Aggregate on UHPC Performance

In this study, graphite tailings produced in Luobei County, Heilongjiang Province, were used as a sustainable aggregate to replace river sand (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) in UHPC for the preparation of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). The experimental results showed that the incorporation of 75% graphite tailings caused a significant increase in the wet bulk density of UHPC mortar. The workability of UHPC decreased monotonically with the increase in graphite tailing substitution rate, and wet bulk density decreased by 28.42% with 100% graphite tailings (compared with no graphite tailings). The incorporation of 75% graphite tailings helped to improve the compressive and flexural strengths as well as the durability of UHPC. Compared with the UHPC without graphite tailings, the 28 d compressive and flexural strengths increased by 8.82% and 7.28%, respectively, and the chloride ion electrical flux decreased by 19.49%. XRD and thermogravimetric analysis data indicate that the incorporation of graphite tailings did not change the type of hydration and that the incorporation of graphite tailings helped to increase the degree of hydration within the UHPC matrix. MIP and SEM showed that 75% graphite tailings helped to reduce the porosity and the number of harmful pores inside the matrix. The 100% graphite tailings treatment replacing river sand decreased the economic cost of UHPC by up to 23.78%.

Geochemical Characteristics of Modern River-Sand and Its Bearing on the Mineral Exploration in the Manufahi Area, Timor-Leste

Geochemical mapping of river sands in the Manufahi area of Timor-Leste revealed potential areas for future mineral exploration. River sand samples from the study area were collected and geochemically analyzed to identify anomalous concentration distributions of several valuable elements and locate potential target areas and geological formations that may host mineral deposits. The 26 major and minor elements were identified using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. The river sands exhibited varying elemental concentrations, with Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ba showing deviations from the normal distribution patterns. Identification of geochemical anomalies is an important task in mineral exploration geochemistry. The mean+2 standard deviations (mean+2STD), median+2 median absolute deviations (median+2MAD), and Tukey’s inner fence (TIF) methods were used to determine the geochemical thresholds. This study shows that TIF and principal component analysis (PCA) methods are highly effective in calculating appropriate threshold values and identifying relevant elemental associations. These approaches have proven useful for delineating target areas for mineral deposits, resulting in reliable outcomes. Four predicted target areas with high potential for deposits and mineralization anomalies of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Ba were delineated in the study area.

Determination of waste crushed baked clay aggregate concrete with granular composite material preparations

Waste baked clay is an industrial waste that causes environmental pollution. Therefore, the possible utilization of this material would reduce environmental pollution. Utilization of baked clay as aggregate in concrete would have a positive effect on the economy. There are many studies on examining concrete as a granular composite. However, there are few studies on the examination of industrial or construction demolition wastes, which are used as aggregate in concrete, with granular composite models. This study was conducted to contribute to filling this gap in the literature. In concrete production, Portland cement, river sand, 4-32 mm in size crushed stone and crushed baked clay as coarse and medium aggregate in the replacement ratio of 0%, 50% and 100% were used. Compression tests were conducted on specimens. Stress-strain curves were drawn as a graph. Elasticity modulus were determined experimentally. Elasticity modulus were calculated using granular composite models. Experimental and calculated elasticity modulus were compared and examined. According to the results, it was determined that these wastes could be evaluated in concrete production and used in the elasticity modulus calculation of granular composite models.

Assessment of induction furnace steel slag as a potential river sand substitute for the production of standard concrete

AbstractThe global construction industry consumes about 50 billion tons of sand every year and in the last two decades; the consumption has tripled in amount. As a critical concern, continuous research is in progress to examine numerous materials as alternatives of river sand. This study focuses to completely replace river sand by induction furnace steel slag (IFSS) for producing standard concrete of M25 grade without compromising the mechanical strength of the resulting mix. One hundred and fifty millimeter sized cubes and 150 mm × 300 mm sized cylinders were casted using Portland slag cement (PSC) and Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) as per Indian standard provisions. Laboratory tests were performed to assess workability, hardened density, compressive strength (7 and 28 days) and splitting tensile strength (28 days). At 100% replacement level, the obtained values of (PSC, PPC) specimens are: slump values (35, 40 mm); hardened density (2730, 2790 kg/m3); compressive strength (34.83, 38.10 MPa) and splitting tensile strength (3.03, 3.32 MPa). This research will act as a game‐changer in the construction industry towards a global sustainable future.

Analysis of Influencing Factors of Water and Sediment Condition Change in Fenhe River

Fenhe River is the second largest tributary of the Yellow River, and its water and sediment conditions have undergone tremendous changes in the age scale. The change of water and sediment conditions will inevitably lead to the change of river morphology, which poses a threat to the surrounding ecological environment and building safety. Firstly, this paper analyzes the changes of water and sediment conditions in Fenhe River through historical data. Secondly, according to the engineering measures and policies in the Fenhe River Basin, the influencing factors are put forward. Finally, the effects of rainfall, soil and water conservation, hydraulic construction, industrial water and coal mining on river flow and sediment conditions are considered. The results show that the increase of rainfall and inflow will weaken the sediment generation and carrying capacity, and further reduce the sediment yield. Soil and water conservation will effectively intercept runoff and sediment, reduce the content of the two in the river ; reservoir construction will regulate runoff and incoming sand to reduce the content of river sand. Industrial development and reservoir filling will reduce the amount of river water ; coal mining activities may aggravate the infiltration of the leakage area, resulting in a decrease in upstream runoff.

On the use of self-compacting concrete based on desert sand and granite powder

This article is dedicated to the valorization of local materials as substitutes in self-compacting concrete. We were interested in studying the effect of adding granite powder as a substitute for cement in a self-compacting concrete made of 100% desert sand, and also as a substitute for river and/or quarry sands. First, the dosage of the superplasticizer on the cementitious paste is optimized and then confirmed this percentage in the case of concrete. Subsequently, several concrete formulations were produced. Then, the rheological, mechanical, and durability behavior of these self-compacting concretes with different percentages of granite powder and superplasticizer were studied by carrying out characterization tests in the fresh state [slump-flow, L box, sieve stability test, density] and the hardened state [Compressive strength, verification of static segregation, etc.]. From the results obtained, the concrete composition with 1.7 % superplasticizer and 10 % granite was found optimal, following the recommendations of the AFGC 2008 standard. The durability tests results of this concrete and the analysis of its behavior at high temperatures have confirmed that the formulation adopted can be used in severe working conditions.

Influence of sand type on acid resistance and capillary absorption capacity

This study aims to investigate the effect of binary and ternary combinations of river sand (RS), crushed sand (CS) and dune sand (DS) on the physical and mechanical performance of concrete subjected to acidic curing environments. The RS was replaced by CS and DS in different mass proportions. The five concrete mixtures M21(RS), M04(0.6CS + 0.4DS), M10(0.2RS + 0.6CS + 0.2DS), M15(0.4RS + 0.6CS) and M16(0.6RS + 0.4DS) were prepared. The sorptivity was evaluated by measuring the sorptivity coefficient (S, cm*s-0.5) after 28 days of submersion in distilled water. Concrete specimens were submersed in distilled water, 5% sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and 5% hydrochloric acid (HCl) for up to 180 days in order to test their acid resistance. Visual inspection, changes in mass and changes in compressive strength were used to evaluate the specimens' resistance to acid attack. The results indicated that replacing RS with CS led to an increase in sorptivity, while replacing RS with DS resulted in a decrease. When both CS and DS were used in place of RS, acid resistance in 5% HCl solution decreased. In 5% H2SO4 solution, substituting RS with CS reduced mass loss, but replacing RS with both CS and DS weakened the concrete's compressive strength.