The Assessment of Crushed Sand Effects on the Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete

The crushed shape of aggregates, regarding its effect on the yield stress, plastic viscosity and the friction between concrete components play an important role in the performance of ordinary and also self-compacting concrete. In this research, the effect of standard crushed sand on the properties of SCC concrete has been studied. To do so, different mixture designs were tested to achieve a suitable mixture design that meets the minimum rheology and resistance requirements of self-consolidating concrete and as a result, five mixture designs with replacing different values of standard crushed sand with natural sand have been fabricated. Rheology Tests (slump flow, V-funnel, J-ring and L-box), Mechanical Resistance Tests (Compressive, tensile and flexural strength) and Durability Tests (capillary water absorption and freeze–thaw cycling resistance) tests have been assessed. It has been observed that by replacing a proportion of natural standard sand with crushed standard sand, filling ability and possibility of self-consolidating concrete have improved. Regarding the obtained results, the mechanical properties of SCC concrete in the specimens with crushed standard sand increased. Also, capillary water absorption has improved in these specimens which shows durability increase in specimens with crushed standard sand.