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Abstract

This is part of a research on the structural characteristics of concrete using lateritic sand and quarry dust as fine aggregate. This paper presents the results of an experimental study investigating the flexural and tensile characteristics of concrete using combinations of lateritic sand and quarry dust as complete replacement for conventional river sand fine aggregate. Samples of concrete (eg. cylinders, beams) were made using varying contents of lateritic sand and quarry dust as fine aggregate. The proportion of lateritic sand was varied from 0 % to 100 % against quarry dust at intervals of 25 %, using concrete mix of 1:1.5:3 and water/cement ratio of 0.65. Concrete samples were prepared, cured for 28 days, and tested in the laboratory to destruction in order to determine their flexural and tensile strength properties. The results show that flexural strengths were 3.28N/mm² for 50% laterite: 50 % quarry dust and 2.88N/mm² for 25 % laterite: 75 % quarry dust. Similarly, tensile strengths were 2.91N/mm² for 50 % laterite: 50 % quarry dust and 1.67N/mm² for 25 % laterite: 75 % quarry dust. These indicate that both flexural and tensile strengths increase with increase in laterite content. The results suggest that concrete containing mixtures of lateritic sand and quarry dust can be reasonably used in structural elements as for normal concrete (Concrete with river sand as fine aggregate).