Investigating the properties of sandcrete blocks using different sources of sand in the Ghanaian construction industry.

Abstract

Sandcrete block has been one of the materials used in construction industry. The source of sand is one of the factors that influence the properties of sancrete blocks. In this experiment the properties of sandcrete blocks made with three (3) different sources of sand were investigated. The properties examined were; particle size distribution, density, water absorption, compressive strength, split tensile strength and abrasion. Materials used for the study were; pit sand, river sand, sea sand, cement and water. The sand used for the experiment conforms with ASTMC33/C33M. The cement used for the experiment conforms with ASTMC150/C150M and the water used also conforms with ASTMC1602/C1602M. ASTMC33/C33M was used as guide to conduct the particle size distribution analysis. 126 specimens were used to conduct the experiment. The mix design used was 1:6 (cement : sand) at a constant water cement ratio of 0.5. Batching of material was done by weight. Mixing of the materials was done manually and moulding of the bricks was done mechanically by hydraulic pressure brick moulding machine of size 100mm×100mm×130mm. The specimen was cured using water spraying method for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days respectively. The density, water absorption and compressive strength were determined using ASTMC90 as a guide. Split tensile strength of the specimen was also determined using ASTMC 496/C 496M as a guide and the abrasion of the specimen was determined using ASTMC944/C944 as a guide. The results revealed that the specimens made with pit sand had a higher density, compressive strength and split tensile strength for the curing days of 7, 14, 21and 28 respectively. It was again revealed that, water absorption of 8.02% for pit sand specimen was 5.09% and 5.40% lower than the river and sea sand respectively. The Anova analysis revealed that there was a significant difference between pit sand, sea sand and river sand whereas there were no significant differences between river sand and sea sand. The study therefore, concluded that the source of sand influences the properties of sandcrete block.