UTILIZATION OF AGGREGATE QUARRY WASTE IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Abstract

The use of solid wastes as a new ingredient in construction materials is one possible
innovative effort to reduce environmental degradation and to facilitate sustainable use of natural resources.
The disposal of the huge amount of wastes from aggregate quarry (WAQ) is one adverse environmental
effects of quarrying activities. Finding useful application of this solid waste, specifically as a substitute for
fine aggregates in concrete mix, alleviates disposal problems and helps the construction industry to come up
with concrete products at lesser cost. This study investigates the structural performance of concrete with
WAQ as substitute for fine aggregates in a concrete mix following ASTM standards. Concrete with WAQ as
fine aggregates achieved almost 78% of its target compressive strength. The reduced compressive strength is
due to the finer and less-angular particles of WAQ in comparison to sand. Empirical model was formulated
that can be used to predict the compressive strength of concrete with WAQ as substitute for sand. Using the
formulated model, the optimum compressive strength can be achieved at 85% substitution for sand. The
flexural strength of concrete with WAQ was in the range of 69% to 72% of the flexural strength of concrete
without WAQ. The presence of WAQ in the concrete mixture has no significant effect in its unit weight,
however, it affects the workability of the mix due to its cohesive property thus requires higher water-cement
ratio. Test results proved that concrete with WAQ as substitute for fine aggregates has strength properties
adequate for structural application.