Comparing The Compressive Strength Of Concrete Made With Sand As Fine Aggregate And Made With Chipping Dust As Fine Aggregate

1.1 BACKGROUND

Currently, Nigeria has taken a major initiative on developing the infrastructures such as express highways, power projects and industrial structures, etc., to meet the requirements of globalization, in the construction of buildings and other structures, concrete plays the rightful role and a large quantum of concrete is being utilized. River sand, which is one of the constituents used in the production of conventional concrete, has become highly expensive and also scarce. In the backdrop of such a bleak atmosphere, there is large demand for alternative materials from industrial waste.

The consumption of cement content, workability, compressive strength and cost of concrete made with Quarry Rock Dust was studied by researchers Babu K.K. et al., Nagaraj T.S. et al. and Narasimahanet al. . The mix design proposed by Nagarajetal. shows the possibilities of ensuring the workability by a wise combination of rock dust and sand, use of super plasticizer and optimum water content using generalized  Rule. Sahu A.K. et al. reported significant increase in compressive strength, modulus of rupture and split tensile strength when 40 percent of sand is replaced by Quarry Rock Dust in concrete. Ilangovan and Nagamani reported that Natural Sand with Quarry Dust as full replacement in concrete as possible with proper treatment of Quarry Dust before utilization.

The utilization of Quarry rock dust, which can be called as manufactured sand has been accepted as a building material in the industrially advanced countries of the west for the past three decades. As a result of sustained research and developmental works undertaken with respect to the increasing application of this industrial waste, the level of utilization of Quarry Rock Dust in the industrialized nations like Australia, France, Germany and UK has been reached more than 60% of its total production. The use of manufactured sand in India has not been much, when compared to some advanced countries.

This paper presents the feasibility of the usage of Chipping Dust as hundred percent substitutes for Conventional Concrete. Tests were conducted on cubes and beams to study the compressive, flexural strengths of concrete made of Chipping Dust for three different proportions and five different methods. Durability Studies were done for concrete with Chipping Dust and compared with the Conventional Concrete. 

1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY

This project is limited to using chipping dust in making concrete and also using river sand to make. The compressive strength of chipping dust and sand are determined and their compressive strength is been compared.

Also, this work shows whether chipping dust can be used to make concrete if there is no sand.

1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Sand which is one of the constituents used in the production of conventional concrete, has become highly expensive and also scarce. In the backdrop of such a bleak atmosphere, there is large demand for alternative materials from industrial waste. The utilization of Grit which can be called as dust of quarry rock has been accepted as a building material.

1.4  OBJECTIVE OF STUDY   

The aim of this project is to determine 

1. The compressive strength of fine sand

2. The compressive strength of chipping dust.

3. Whether chipping dust can be used in place of fine aggregate.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

Due to the increased level of construction in Nigeria, it is expected that fine aggregate suitable for use in concrete will become scarce or not economical to produce.

Also, there are some areas in Nigeria where there is no river sand like in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. But such areas have quarry dust, so using quarry dust become affordable and economical to use. 

As source of quality concrete aggregate becomes deplete, the use of more marginal aggregates will mean an increased use in reactive aggregates in concrete. quarry dust  (solid waste) is considered a viable alternative to river sand in concrete. Crushed stone sand is a fine material formed during the process of conversion of rock into aggregate and has particle size ranging from 4mm to dust size (< 0.075mm) the crused stone sand is a material of high quality .the fine particles and irregular shape of the crushed stone sand has harsh effects on the workability and finishability of concrete. These harsh effects have given crushed stone sand a poor reputation in the construction industry. However, recent studies have shown that this crushed stone sand can be used to produce concrete with higher compressive strengths (Bonavetti et. Al., 1994, celiket. Al., 1994).