ELASTIC AND DURABILITY PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE INCORPORATING QUARRY DUST
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study: Concrete’s versatility, durability, elasticity, sustainability, and economy have made it the world’s most widely used construction material. About four tons of concrete are produced per person per year worldwide and about 1.7 tons per person in the United States. The term concrete refers to a mixture of aggregates, usually sand, and either gravel or crushed stone, held together by a binder of cementitious paste (Kosmatka, Steven & Kerkhoff, Beatrix & Panarese, William, 2002). Concrete is a structural product, possessing incredible design versatility and flexibility. Sustainable design means incorporating a responsible balance of elements in the choice of suitable products that combine to achieve design goals (Glanville, & Neville; 1997). In the same vein, tremendous efforts have been made in the area of concrete engineering and technology to research and study the utilization of by-products, waste materials and naturally occurring materials in the production of concrete (Ephraim, & Ode, 2006; Ephraim & Rowland-Lato, 2015;, Ilangovana, Mahendrana, & Nagamanib, 2010; Jayawardena, & Dissanayake, 2006; Khamput, 2005, Muhit, Haque, & Rabiul, 2013). Among this materials is 10mm all-in gravel aggregate occurs in great abundance in areas such as the low lying riverine areas of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and is easily available all year round and quarry dust is a by-product from the crushing process during quarrying activities in Akamkpa area of Cross River state. Historically, the oldest concrete discovered dates from around 7000 BC. It was found in 1985 when a concrete floor was uncovered during the construction of a road at Yiftah El in Galilee, Israel (Kosmatka, 2002). It consisted of a lime concrete, made from burning limestone to produce quicklime, which when mixed with water and stone, hardened to form concrete (Brown 1996 and Auburn 2000). A cementing material was used between the stone blocks in the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza in ancient Egypt around 2500 BC. Some reports say it was a lime mortar while others say the cementing material was made from burnt gypsum. By 500 BC, the art of making lime-based mortar arrived in ancient Greece. The Greeks used lime-based materials as a binder between stone and brick and as a rendering material over porous limestones commonly used in the construction of their temples and palaces (Kosmatka, 2002). Natural pozzolans have been used for centuries.
The term “pozzolan” comes from a volcanic ash mined at Pozzuoli, a village near Naples, Italy, following the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Sometime during the second century BC the Romans quarried a volcanic ash near Pozzuoli. Believing that the material was sand, they mixed it with lime and found the mixture to be much stronger than previously produced (Kosmatka, 2002). This discovery was to have a significant effect on construction. The material was not sand, but a fine volcanic ash containing silica and alumina. When combined chemically with lime, this material produced what became known as pozzolanic cement. However, the use of volcanic ash and calcined clay dates back to 2000 BC and earlier in other cultures. Many of the Roman, Greek, Indian, and Egyptian pozzolan concrete structures can still be seen today. The longevity of these structures attests to the durability of these materials. Examples of early Roman concrete have been found dating back to 300 BC. The very word concrete is derived from the Latin word “concretus” meaning grown together or compounded. The Romans perfected the use of pozzolan as a cementing material. This material was used by builders of the famous Roman walls, aqueducts, and other historic structures including the Theatre at Pompeii, Pantheon, and Colliseum in Rome. Building practices were much less refined in the Middle Ages and the quality of cementing materials deteriorated (Kosmatka, 2002). Quarry dust can be defined as residue, tailing or other non voluble waste material of size less than 4.75mm resulting from the extraction and processing of rocks. The composition of quarry dust depends on the mineral composition of the parent rock. It may also depend on the type of crusher and its reduction ratio, i.e. the ratio of the size of the material fed into the crusher to the size of the finished products (Khamput, 2005). The successful utilization of these materials is expected to result in benefits such as reduction of environmental load, waste management and concrete production cost in addition to enhancement of the properties of concrete in both fresh and hardened state.
Durability may be regarded as a measure of the ability of material to sustain its distinctive Characteristics and resistance to weathering under conditions of use for the duration of the service lifetime of the structure made from it (Glanville, & Neville, 1997; Sjostrum, 1996). Applicable to concrete, it is the ability of concrete to resist deteriorating agents; maintain its original form, be serviceable and environmentally compatible. Present survey shows that in industrialized countries, more than 40% of the total resources of the building industry is spent on repairs and maintenance of concrete structures (Ephraim, & Ode, 2006; Gettu, Garcia-Alvarez & Aguado, 1998). It is therefore necessary to carry out a detailed study of these properties; review existing literature concerning the use of quarry dust in structural concrete production; ascertain the suitability of the use of Akamkpa quarry dust in structural concrete considering their physical and chemical properties; determine the workability of fresh concrete incorporating quarry dust as fine aggregate; determine the compressive, flexural and tensile strengths of the hardened concrete, and several other issues associated with concrete.
1.2 Research problem
The adhesive nature of quarry dust powder makes it difficult for its transportation which develops the need for it to be utilized at the site itself. This requirement has opened an opportunity for quarry dust powder to be partially used in concrete building blocks which is an effective way of utilization. Quarry dust powder was not considered for a detailed analysis in the past, whereas several studies were done using materials like quarry dust, limestone, granite, marble etc which has similar properties. The quantity of waste produced due to Construction and Demolition (C&D) nowadays is huge and at the same time, scarcity of aggregates is a major problem faced by the construction industry. Utilization of C&D waste as aggregates is thus an economic and effective method in reducing the problems caused by these wastes (Michael, and Athanasia, 2016; Kala, 2013; Senthil, Selvarani, Saranya, Suganya, and Suganya, 2015).
Studies were conducted on materials like quarry dust, granite and marble slurry, laterite, concrete slurry etc. for various applications and their properties were evaluated in the past. Strength properties like compression, split tension, flexural, impact etc. have shown improved results using these materials up to certain percentage of replacements [6–10]. Stress–strain characteristics, micro structural and durability properties of these materials were also studied in detail (Ernest, and Juan, 2012; Ribeirode, Leonardo, Ramosda, Weliton, and Marta, 2013; Diogo, Filipe, Jorge, 2013; Manpreet, Anshuman, Dipendu, 2017). It was found that granite powder is coarser than cement particles, whereas the finer powder is smaller than cement particles in size (Telma, Ana, Bruno, João, and Joana, 2013). Building blocks with fine granite powder was found to show higher Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) than conventional bricks which indicates an improved quality of concrete (Nuno, Fernando, Jorge, José, 2007). A possible replacement of cement with marble slurry was also studied because of its higher surface area and the presence of calcite and dolomite (Praveen, & Dhanya 2016; Vijayalakshmi, and Sekar, 2013; Ilangovana, Mahendrana, & Nagamanib, 2008).
Finer granite powder was found to improve resistance to chloride and sulphate attacks when the percentage replacement of fine aggregate is 30% in concrete (Dongxing, Baojian, Chi, Wei, 2016; Dehwah, 2012; Vincent, Eric, Cédric, Philippe, 2016). Apart from strength and durability properties, acoustic and thermal conductivity properties were also evaluated and found that addition of new materials into concrete mixes has noticeable changes in their thermal and acoustic properties (Bishwajit, & Krishnamoorthy, 2004; Kodur, & Sultan, 2003; Adam, Eric, Kristy, Jason, & Jan, 2004). The previous studies have shown that addition of waste materials like granite powder, marble slurry, laterite dust into concrete mixes have positively altered the mechanical and durability properties (Senthil, Selvarani, Saranya, Suganya, & Suganya, (2015). These past results open opportunities for quarry dust powder to be considered for incorporation in concrete building blocks, thus bringing a possible solution for the problems caused by the same. To the researcher’s knowledge only limited studies were reported on the use of quarrying dust for the preparation of concrete building blocks with special reference to Akampka. The present work reports a detailed study on the examination of elastic and durability properties of concrete incorporating quarry dust with specific reference to Akamkpa, Cross River state.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
Primary Aim
The aim of this research is to investigate the elastic and durability properties of concrete incorporating quarry dust as fine aggregate.
Objectives the study
-
To review existing literature concerning the use of quarry dust in structural concrete production.
-
To ascertain the suitability of the use of Akamkpa quarry dust in structural concrete considering their physical and chemical properties.
-
To determine the workability of fresh concrete incorporating quarry dust as fine aggregate.
-
To determine the compressive, flexural and tensile strengths of the hardened concrete.
-
To determine the modulus of elasticity of the hardened concrete.
-
To determine the water absorption capacity and sorptivity of the concrete.
-
To determine the chloride penetration resistance of the concrete.
1.4 Significance of Research
Strength of concrete is one of the most important characteristics of hardened concrete mix besides its durability, and the compressive strength represents the best indication to the state of strength of a particular concrete. The findings of this study is significant as it explores the effect of quarry dust as partial replacement material to river sand, resulting in significant effects to the compressive strength of concrete. The results will affirm or disprove the suitability of the use of Akamkpa quarry dust in structural concrete and the modulus of elasticity of the hardened concrete. The results will establish the compressive strengths of concrete when Akamkpa quarry dust is incorporated. The overall findings of this study will be helpful to construction professionals. More so, the future studies may find the results of this study helpful as its results are a rethought in the light of contemporary significance.
1.5 Research Scope
This study focuses on establishing the suitability of Akamkpa quarry dust when incorporated in concrete. It particularly observes chloride penetration resistance of the concrete and therefore seeks to establish the water absorption capacity and sorptivity of the concrete. The scope of this academic investigation is defined within the specific parameters of compressive, flexural and tensile strengths of the hardened concrete when mixed with quarry dust. Also, this study is regional based as Akamkpa has been adopted as the specific site for this study. The implication of this selection is that the findings from this study may not be applied to all quarry sites, hence, user caution is advised when applying the result of this study to other quarry sites.
1.6 Research Limitations
Limitations for a study refers to the encumbrances that may limit the full dividends of a certain undertaken. It can also mean the shortfalls of a study which creates a knowledge gap for further studies. Whilst this study paid huge attention to quarry dust, the specificity gives precision to the result of the study but is a shortfall for this study. More concrete elements and properties could be considered to expand the findings. More so, this study is limited to a selected quarry site. Further studies might consider examining other quarry sites and investigating the accompanying differences, all in a bid to expand the frontiers of construction knowledge.