Abstract

Recent years have observed aggressive exploitation of natural resources which led to an

alarming cause of concern nowadays. Due to developments in the construction field, the

worldwide consumption of natural aggregates is dominant as well as the excessive production

of solid wastes from the demolitions and manufacturing units. In agreement with

conservation efforts, this research focuses on waste ceramic materials as partial fine

aggregates replacement for concrete production, prevention of environmental pollution

considering the elements of sustainable and cost-saving construction projects, especially

material usage. A previous study concluded that a forty percent (40%) replacement of waste

ceramic materials for aggregates produced satisfactory results in terms of compressive

strength. Also, the study of particle size bears relevance to the incorporation of fine

aggregates because compaction or packing effort will be governed by aggregate size. Using

particle size as a parameter has led to this research study to determine its effect on the

compressive strength of concrete with waste ceramic materials. This paper presents the result

of an experimental study carried out in which crushed ceramic materials were used with a

constant 40% partial replacement of natural sand for seven (7) design mix with each of them

having a designated particle size. A design mix was also made for conventional concrete with

no replacement. The prepared design mix was cured for 28 days under ambient condition for

curing period. A total of twenty four (24) samples, three (3) samples per design mix and three

(3) samples of conventional concrete with 1:2:3 ratio were produced, used and tested. Tests

and investigations have been conducted to achieve results. Based from the results, it has been

concluded that:

The slump value of the fresh concrete with waste ceramic materials decreases

when the particle size decreases.

 Concrete specimens with uniformly graded crushed ceramic materials as partial

replacement of fine aggregates, with the exception of uniformly graded M6 and

well-graded M7, have higher compression strength than the conventional concrete.

Hence, almost all uniformly graded crushed ceramic materials performed better in

terms of compression strength.

Compressive strength of concrete with varying particle size of crushed ceramic

materials as partial replacement of fine aggregates, with the exception of M 6 and

M7, had a considerable percentage increase compared to the conventional concrete

but the trend in its increase is indirect or varying - increases for M 1, decreases for

M2 but still higher than conventional concrete, increases the highest for M 3,

decreases for M4 but also still higher than conventional concrete, slightly increases

for M5, decreases significantly below the conventional concrete for M6, and

increases for M7 but still lesser than the conventional concrete.

The crack patterns observed for concrete with crushed ceramic materials when

subjected to compressive loading were similar to the conventional concrete.

The failure mode of concrete with crushed ceramic materials is brittle for all the

specimens.