Physical characterization of granular aggregates and the incidence on concrete strength

UÑAC, R.O.; DOLCEMÁSCOLO, M.; MEDICI, M.E.; VIDALES, A M

International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Research Technology

SN Publishing Company

Año: 2016 vol. 2 p. 15 - 21

2454-9290

The resistance of concrete cores to uniaxial compression has been proved to be sensitive to the physical properties of the granular materials used in their production. In the present work, we demonstrate that a simple and easy protocol for measuring some physical properties like shape factors, apparent density and specific surface of the granular aggregates before being added to the concrete, can predict, at least qualitatively, the future behavior of a core made of that concrete and subjected to uniaxial compression. But, unlike in previous works, we find an important physical factor that has a crucial role: the presence of cleavage planes in the aggregates. This assessment is contrasted here with experimental evidence using granular materials resulting from huge waste deposits of flagstone and granite coming from the mining production. These discards provoke a significant environmental pollution, in addition to economic losses. Besides the correlation between the physical parameters of grains and the resistance response of concrete cores, we also prove that granular discards may be used as part of the aggregates in the concrete mixture if proper proportions are chosen. This last issue is promising when environmental recovery is on course.