International Journal of Frontier in Civil and Structural Engineering, Vol (3), Issue (1)2021

(ISSN NO-2582-1946)

Study On Behaviour Of Concrete Partially Replacing Quartz

Sand As Fine Aggregate
Kaurav Suneel1, Singh Danveer 2, Kumar Arun3
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Assistant Professor, Dept . of civil Engg. Technocrats Institute of Technology, Bhopal, M.P., INDIA

ABSTRACT:
he use of quartz sand as replacement for sand is an economical solution for making the concrete resistant to
weathering. The paper presents a concrete mix design procedure for partial replacement of sand with quartz
sand. Present method was performed to evaluate the additional compressive, flexural strength with higher
slump over conventional concrete in which sand is replaced with 0%, 20%, 40%,60%,80% and 100% of quartz
sand by weight with 1% super plasticizers. The research also revealed that there is possibility of replacing fine
aggregate with quartz sand in the production of structural concrete. The mix proportion adopted was 1:1.7:3 as
per 10262:2009. Compressive and flexural strength tests were carried out to evaluate the strength properties
of concrete at the age of 7 and 28 days..

KEY WORDS: Concrete, Quartz sand, Compressive strength, flexural strength, Super plasticizers

1. INTRODUCTION
Quartz is the most abundant silica mineral. Pure Quartz is colourless and transparent. It occurs in
most igneous and practically all metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Quartz is mainly made up of
silica. The formula for it is SiO2. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. It is highly resistant to both
mechanical and chemical weathering. This durability makes it the dominant mineral of mountaintops
and the primary constituent of beach, river and desert sand. Quartz is ubiquitous, plentiful and durable.
Sand becomes a scarce material, alternative for sand is needed all over, and also providing good
strength than conventional concrete and some additional advantages, this experiment is done. This
study gives a new alternative for fine aggregate. Resistant nature to weathering is very useful for
buildings in future. Quartz sands are used for traction in the railroad and mining industries. These
sands are also used in recreation on golf courses, volleyball courts, baseball fields, children’s sand
boxes and beaches. It is also used in glass manufacturing, petroleum industry, as an abrasive. Quartz
sand is used as filler in the manufacture of rubber, paint and putty. Quartz is very resistant to both
chemicals and heat. It is used as a foundry sand with a melting temperature higher than most metals.
Refractory brick are often made of quartz sand because of its high heat resistance.

OBJECTIVES
• Sand becomes a scarce material, alternative for sand is needed all over, and also providing
good strength than conventional concrete and some additional advantages, this experiment is
done.
• Compare the strength properties of conventional concrete mix M20 with the properties of
concrete withquartz sand partially replacing sand.
• Find the optimum percentage of quartz sand that canbe replaced for sand.

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 International Journal of Frontier in Civil and Structural Engineering, Vol (3), Issue (1)2021
(ISSN NO-2582-1946)

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

• Make use of the quartz sand available from industries and also the river side in the form of
deposits as fine aggregate in concrete.
• Evaluate the properties of fresh concrete and strength properties of hardened concrete.
• This study gives a new alternative for fine aggregate.Resistant nature to weathering is very
useful for buildings in future.

2. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME

The Experimental Program was designed to investigate the effect on the properties of the
concrete by using quartz sand as a partial replacement for fine aggregate with different proportions
0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%. For each test at each curing age, and the average values were used
for analysis.

3. MIX PROPORTION:
Table 1. Mix Proportion

QUARTZ
FINE
SAND
AGGREGATE
0% 100%
20% 80%
40% 60%

60% 40%
80% 20%
100% 0%

4. SELECTION OF MATERIALS AND ITS PROPERTIES MATERIALS

CEMENT
It can be defined as material having adhesive and cohesive properties which make it capable
of binding material fragments in to a compact mass. Cement is obtained by burning together in a
definite proportion, a mixture of naturally occurring calcareous (containing calcium carbonate or
lime) and argillaceous (containing alumina) material to be partial fusion at high temperature about
1450oC. The four major compounds are:
 Tricalcium silicate (3CaO.SiO2)
 Dicalcium silicate (2CaO.SiO2)
 Tricalcium aluminate (3CaO.Al2O3)
 Tetracalcium aluminoferrite(4CaO.Al2O3.Fe2O)
The ordinary Portland cement was classified in to three grades, namely 33grades, 43 grades and 53
grades depending upon the strength of the cement at 28 days when tested as per IS 4031-1988. If 28

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(ISSN NO-2582-1946)

days strength is not less than 53N/mm2, it is called 53 grade cement. It is proposed to study the
properties of high strength concrete of grade M20. Adopting 53 grade cement for the study.
FINE AGGREGATE
Aggregates provide dimensional stability and wear resistance for concrete. Not only do they
provide strength and durability to concrete, but they also influence the mechanical and physical
properties of concrete. Aggregates act as a filler material and lower the cost of concrete. Aggregates
should be hard, strong, free from undesirable impurities and chemically stable. They should not interfere
with the cement or any of the materials incorporated into concrete. They should be free from
impurities and organic matters which may affect the hydration process of cement. The workability,
strength, durability and moisture
Susceptibility of concrete are greatly influenced by the characteristics of aggregates. Fine
aggregate (sand) is defined as an aggregate with particles of size smaller than 4.75mm and equal to or
larger than 75µm.Natural River sand with fraction passing through 4.75mm sieve and retained on
60micron sieve will be used.
COARSE AGGREGATE
Coarse aggregate consists of rounded river gravel, crushed stone or manufactured aggregate
with particles of size equal to or larger than 4.75mm.Coarse aggregate of size 20mm has been selected
for the study. The physical properties will be tested as per IS2386 (part 1)-1963.It is used to improve
the strength of the concrete.
WATER
Water is needed for the hydration of cement and to provide workability during mixing and
for placing. Portable tap water available in the laboratory with pH value of 7.0 and conforming to the
requirements of IS456-2000 is used for making concrete and curing thespecimen as well.
SUPER PLASTICIZER
Super plasticizer is the highly water reducing chemical admixture which helps in retaining the
flowing properties of a concrete mixture. They are used to modify the physical properties of the
concrete mixture. It is used for other purpose like saving the mechanical energy.
QUARTZ SAND
Quartz is the most important sand-forming mineral. Because it is resistant to both physical
and chemical weathering and it is also physically hard. Quartz sand can be found in Florida and
passive continental margins. Sand from Siesta Key beach is sometimes called the whitest in the
world although it has competitors. Thus, we very often see it in sediments.
Quartz is also the most important hydrothermal mineral, filling cracks in the crust with many
other andoften economically important minerals.

PROPERTIES

Properties of Quartz sand

Specific gravity = 2.45, Water absorption = 1.98% Fineness modulus = 4.2
Properties of fine and coarse aggregate
Specific gravity of fine aggregate = 2.5 Specific gravity of coarse aggregate = 2.6 Water
absorption for fine aggregate = 1% Water absorption for coarse aggregate = 0.6%Fineness
Modulus of fine aggregate = 4 Fineness Modulus of coarse aggregate = 5.96 Specific
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(ISSN NO-2582-1946)

gravity of cement = 3.1

These the values obtained from preliminary tests conducted.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

RESULTS OF COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TESTS ON CONCRETE CUBES
The specimens are tested to find out the mechanical properties. The concrete cube specimens
were placed over the Compression Testing Machine and the load was gradually applied till the
failure of the specimen. The ultimate load was noted down as collapse load and compressive strength
was calculated. The results of the compressive strength tests on concrete cubes are shown in Table2
and Graph1.

Table 2: Compressive Strength of Concrete Cubes with various percentages of Quartz sand

Quartz sand Compressive

replacement Strength (N/mm2)

% 7 days 28 days

0% 17.12 24.9
20% 18.20 26.8
40% 18.65 27.2
60% 18.90 28.2

80% 18.12 27.5

100% 17.78 26.7

.
Graph. 1 Compressive strength test results
The results of the compressive strength of concrete cubes show that the compressive strengths
reduced as the percentage Quartz sand increased. However, the compressive strengths increased as the
number of days of curing increased for each percentage Quartz sand replacement. It is seen from Table
2 that for the control cube, the compressive strength increased from 17.12 N/mm2 at 7 days to 24.9
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N/mm2 at 28 days.
After replacing 60% of quartz sand replacement the compressive strength increased from 18.90
N/mm2 to
28.2 N/mm2.This is the optimum strength value of compressive strength.
5. RESULTS OF FLEXURAL STRENGTH TESTS ON CONCRETE BEAMS
Flexural strength also known as modulus of rupture, bend strength or fracture strength, a
mechanical parameter for brittle material, is defined as a material’s ability to resist deformation under
load. The results of the Flexural Strength tests on concrete beams are shown in Table3 and Graph 2

Table 3: Flexural Strength of Concrete beams withvarious percentages of Quartz sand

Quartz sand Flexural Strength

replacement (N/mm2)

% 7 days 28 days

0% 2.0 3.12
20% 2.15 3.21

40% 2.31 3.36

60% 2.35 3.45
80% 2.25 3.25
100% 2.15 3.24

Graph. 2 Flexural strength test results

The results of the Flexural strength of concrete beams show that the Flexural strengths reduced as the
percentage Quartz sand increased. However, the Flexural strengths increased as the number of days
of curing increased for each percentage Quartz sand replacement. It is seen from Table 3 that for the
control beam, the Flexural strength increased from 2.0 N/mm2 at 7 days to 3.12 N/mm2 at 28 days.
At the 60% replacement of quartz sand, the flexural strength increased from 2.35 N/mm2 to 3.45
N/mm2. At that percentage the optimum flexural strength is obtained.

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5. CONCLUSIONS

Based on experimental research for concrete made with partial replacement of fine aggregate
by quartz sand with different percentage (0%,20%,40%,60%, 80% and 100%) are conducted, the
test results show clearly that 60% quartz sand as a partial replacement of fine aggregate has
beneficial effects of the mechanical properties concrete & the following conclusions are drawn at 28
days.
 Compressive strength is 9.53% greater than that of Conventional concrete.
 Flexural strength is 13.53% higher than that of Conventional concrete.
 The water absorption was about 0.31% less than that of conventional concrete.

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