ENHANCING THE ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF SANDCRETE BLOCKS

Abstract

Researchers are driven by the growing need to utilize by-products and industry wastes so as to find suitable alternatives for cement and sand, the two basic ingredients in the sandcrete block manufacturing process. In this study the effect of replacing the fine aggregate partially first with granite fines, then with granite coarse aggregate was investigated. The influence of water-cement ratio and method of manufacture on the compressive strength of the blocks was also investigated.

The results showed that the strength of the sandcrete blocks increased significantly when the sand was partially replaced with either granite fines or granite coarse aggregate, and also with increasing water-cement ratio.