Influence of river and crushing aggregates composition in self-compacting mortars

ABSTRACT

This article aimed to study self-compacting mortar with fine aggregate compositions (river sand and crushed sand) in order to reduce the consumption of natural river sand, since it generates an impact due to its extraction. In the fresh state, the mortars produced were evaluated for specific gravity, air entrained content, fluidity and appearance (surface finish). In the hardened state were also determined the tensile and compressive strengths; elasticity modulus and specific gravity. From the results obtained, it was concluded that the replacement of natural river sand by crushing sand reduced the water demand in self-compacting mortars (higher cement consumption), resulting in a lower volume of paste for the same fluidity, due to the greater fineness modulus of sand from crushing and better packing due to more continuous granulometry. The decrease in the water-cement ratio resulting in an increase in the compressive strength, tensile strength and the elasticity modulus, obtaining values above the minimum required by standard specification. However, as the consumption coefficient of Portland cement has also increased, the possibility of adjusting the composition is evident, reducing the consumption coefficient of Portland cement for a given strength. With the increase in the crushing sand and Portland cement content, the mixtures obtained a lower binder intensity index, more efficient.

Keywords
self-compacting mortar; self-leveling mortar; crushed sand; river sand