STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE CONTAINING LATERITE AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR FINE AGGREGATES.

Abstract

The need to reduce the high cost of concrete production resulting from increasing cost of fineaggregate formed the basis for the study. The study was undertaken to effect of partialreplacement of sand with laterite on strength properties of concrete. Laterite sample was added tosand in an increasing order of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% by weight of sand. Experimentaltesting was conducted so as to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of sand with laterite onstrength properties of concrete. These tests are: sieve analysis test, specific gravity test, bulkdensity test, slump test and compressive strength test. Results obtained from sieve analysis testrevealed that granite, sand and laterite were classified as A-1-b, A-2-4 and A-2-6 according toAASHTO Soil Classification System, GC, SM and SC according to Unified Soil ClassificationSystem, the specific gravity of granite, sand and laterite were 2.61, 2.55 and 2.66 respectively,the liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index of the laterite sample was 42.4%, 25.9% and16.5%. The slump of the concrete increased from 0% addition of laterite to 15% addition oflaterite to sand, the hardened density and compressive strength of the concrete increased from0% addition of laterite to sand to 5% addition of laterite to sand beyond 5% laterite content, thehardened density and compressive strength was found to decrease. This study thereforediscourage the use of laterite as partial substitute for sand in concrete beyond 5% addition oflaterite to sand as the compressive strength of the concrete were found to decrease.