International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395 -0056

Volume: 04 Issue: 05 | May -2017 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF

VERMICULITE CONCRETE USING FLYASH AS PARTIALLY REPLACEMENT
OF CEMENT AND SILICA FUME AS MINERAL ADMIXTURE
A. V. V. Sairam1, K. Sailaja2
1Post Graduate student, Gudlavalleru Engineering College, Gudlavalleru, India
2Asst. Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering,, Gudlavalleru Engineering College, Gudlavalleru, India
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Abstract - Concrete is the single most widely used building
material throughout the world. Concrete is used in large
amounts because it is only and extremely good building
material. In many places of the world the temperature is rising
day by day. These days due to constant sand mining the
natural sand is depleting at an alarming rate. In this case fine
aggregate is partially replacement of vermiculite. Use of
vermiculite in concrete it will enhance the shrinkage and crack
resistance, fire resistance and reduces environmental impact
and also reduce the cost. In this present study, an attempt has
been made to study the mechanical properties of M35 grade
concrete with different percentages at a range of 5%, 10%, Figure -1: Vermiculite passing through 4.75 mm sieve
15%, 20%, 25% and 30% as partially replacement with
vermiculite to the total weight of fine aggregate along with
1.1. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
mineral admixtures like Fly ash (FA) is replace with cement by
various percentages i.e., 10%, 15% and 20% and silica fume  To study the strength properties with increasing the
(SF) as adding of 5%, 7.5%, 10% and 12.5% by weight of percentage values of vermiculite.
cement. It has been experiential that the required strengths  To study the increasing in strength properties by
are achieved at optimum percentage of compressive strength adding mineral admixtures.
i.e. 10% silica fume is addition and 15% fly ash is replacement  To study the optimum percentage varying at
by weight of cement and optimum percentage of split tensile different percentage values of mineral admixtures
strength i.e. 10% silica fume is addition and 10% fly ash is like silica fume and fly ash.
replacement by weight of cement. Water cement ratio is  To study the bulk density and cubes weight at
0.42.Water cement ratio is put constant for all trail mixtures. various replacement levels of vermiculite.

Key Words: Exfoliated Vermiculite, Silica Fume, Fly ash, 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Compressive Strength, Split Tensile Strength, Flexural
Strength, Cement, Fine Aggregate M.R.Divya et al., (2016) have study on M30 grade concrete
using vermiculite as partial replacement with 40%, 50% and
1. INTRODUCTION 60% to the total weight of fine aggregate. The aim of their
project is to study the strength parameters such as
Vermicular is an Italian word for worm from which it has compressive strength, split tensile & flexural strength of
consequent its name as vermiculite. Some establishment concrete. They study result shows the optimum strength in
quotes the Latin word vermicular from which the name compare the strengths for different vermiculite percentage
vermiculite might be implemented. Vermiculite is a hydrous was observed to be 50%.
phyllosilicate mineral group and is micaceous in
environment. Vermiculite is formed by weathering or S Syed Abdul Rahman and Gijo K Babu (2016) In their
hydrothermal alteration of biotite or phlogopite. Exfoliated study, structural light weight aggregate concrete was
vermiculite is obtainable in five different grades, which are designed with the use of natural vermiculite aggregate that
based upon weight rather than particle size. will provide an advantage of reducing dead weight of
structure and to obtain a more reasonable structural light
weight concrete by the use of vermiculite power as a partial
replacement of fine aggregate. Three mixes were created
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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395 -0056
Volume: 04 Issue: 05 | May -2017 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

with the cement content of 479kg/m3 in M30 grade and Vermiculite Aggregate
water cement ratio is 0.40. The proportion of 0%, 5% and The Vermiculite is used as a filler material and it is
10%, as vermiculite replacement to fine aggregate. And lastly obtainable in golden brown, can also be white, colorless or
they concluded that the 10% replacement of vermiculite to yellow. The specific gravity of vermiculite is 2.06.
fine aggregate well compared to control mix.
Silica Fume
S.Sharmila and L.Vijayan (2016) Have study replacement Silica fume is a by product of producing silicon metal or
of the fine aggregate with the material called vermiculite. It ferrosilicon alloys. One of the most favorable uses for silica
belongs to the family of light weight aggregates. The fume is in concrete. The specific gravity of silica fume is 2.63.
exfoliated vermiculite is used as a replacement of fine
aggregate. This project is mostly related in places where the Fly Ash
ecological temperature is very high. The Replacements were Fly ash is a thermal waste by product which is available in
done in 5, 10 and 15% of fine aggregate. And finally conclude various places. The specific gravity of fly ash is 2.11.
that the Vermiculite replaced concrete shows insignificant
decrease in density up to 15% when compared to normal Water
concrete. In spit tensile test no much variation in split tensile For curing purpose portable water is used during the
strength when compare to normal concrete. project.

B. Krishna Kumari Bai, M. KantaRao (2015) Have their 4. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

study high performance concrete with mineral admixtures, In this experimental investigation the mechanical properties
low water cement ratio and super plasticizers are use. Fly of vermiculite concrete for different partially replacement
ash (FA) is replaced with cement by different percentages percentages of vermiculite and various replacements and
i.e., 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and silica fume (SF) as addition of mineral admixtures to the whole weight cement
addition of 10% by total weight of cement. It has been are determined.
observed that the workability and required strengths are
achieve at optimum percentage i.e. 10% silica fume is 4.1 Mix proportions
addition and 15% fly ash is replacement by weight of By using recommended guidelines of concrete mix design
cement. Water cement ratio is 0.32. They concluded that the using Indian standard code (IS: 10262-2009) the mix
compressive strength is increased by 11% for replacement proportions of concrete were prepared for M35 grade
of cement by 15% fly ash and silica fume 10% was addition concrete is 1:1.45:2.66 with a water-cement ratio of 0.42.
of cement. The flexural strength test value for 28 days was
found to be 8.5 N/mm2. The split tensile strength test value Fine Coarse
for 28 days was fund to be 4.2N/mm2. Cement W/C
Aggregate aggregate
(Kg/m3) (lit)
(Kg/m3) (Kg/m3)
3. MATERIALS USED 442.85 642.78 1178.82 186
1 1.45 2.66 0.42
The materials properties used in the concrete are given
below: Table 1: Mix proportion of vermiculite concrete

Cement 4.2 Mechanical properties vermiculite concrete

Ordinary Portland Cement of KCP brand of 53 grade
confirming to IS 4031-1988 was used throughout the study. In order to calculate the Compressive strength tests were
The specific gravity of cement is taken as 3.15. conducted at 7, 28 days of cube (150x 150 x150 mm)
specimens. For each set, three cubes are tested.
Fine Aggregate In order to calculate the Split tensile strength tests were
The Natural River sand locally available confirming to IS conducted at 7, 28 days of cylinders (150x 300 mm)
383-1987 was used of grading zone II. The specific gravity, specimens. For each set, three cylinders are tested.
fineness modulus and water absorption of fine aggregate is
2.62, 2.36 and 1.8%. 5. TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Coarse Aggregate
Effect of Vermiculite under Cubes for partially replacement
Locally available coarse aggregate passing through 20 mm
of fine aggregate
sieve and retained on 10 mm sieve is used throughout the
project. The specific gravity, fineness modulus and water
absorption of coarse aggregate is 2.75, 6.08 and 1.58%.

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395 -0056
Volume: 04 Issue: 05 | May -2017 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Table-2: Compressive strength of vermiculite concrete

50

Compressive Strength
Compressive Strength 40
Percentage 30

(N/mm2)
S.no Replacement of (N/mm2)
20 7Days
Vermiculite (%)
7Days 28Days 10 28 Days
0
1. 0 30.5 43.92 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Percentage Replacement of Vermiculite
2. 5 29.62 42.45 (%)

3. 10 27.43 40.92

4. 15 25.87 37.48
Fig-2: Graph shows the Compressive strengths for various
5. 20 23.62 36.50 Percentage Replacement of Vermiculite

6. 25 21.45 35.67
5
7. 30 19.15 30.12 Split Tensile Strength 4
3
(N/mm2)

2
Effect of Vermiculite under cylinders for partially 7Days
replacement of fine aggregate 1 28 Days
0
Table-3: Split Tensile strength of vermiculite concrete 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Percentage Replacement of vermiculite
Percentage Tensile Strength (N/mm2) (%)
S.no Replacement of
Vermiculite (%) 7 Days 28Days
1. 0 2.71 4.18
Fig-3: Graph shows the Split Tensile strengths for various
2. 5 2.67 Percentage Replacement of Vermiculite
4.12
3. 10 2.61 4.02 Effect of Cubes weights due to Replacement of Vermiculite
with fine aggregate
4. 15 2.56 3.94
S.no Percentage Weight of the
5. 20 2.48 3.82 Replacement of Cube
Vermiculite (%) Specimens(Kgs)
6. 25 2.4 3.7
1. 0 9.02
7. 30 2.33 3.59 2. 5 8.71

3. 10 8.46

4. 15 8.15

5. 20 7.86

6. 25 7.66

7. 30 7.50

Table-4: weight of the cube specimens

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395 -0056
Volume: 04 Issue: 05 | May -2017 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Table-6: To calculate the optimum percentage of Cubes with

10 varying proportions of Mineral Admixtures is given below.
9
Weight of the Cube

8
Specimens(Kgs)

Compressive Strength
7 Mix Designation
6 (N/mm2)
5
4 % of Silica Fume added +
28 Days 7Days 28Days
3 % Replacement of Fly ash
2
1 10 31.92 44.10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 15 33.62 44.55
Percentage Replacement of
Vermiculite (%) 20 30.23 43.9

10 35.67 46.13

7.5 15 34.40 47.16

Fig-4: Graph shows the weight of cube specimens
20 33.63 45.12

10 36.50 47.75

% Replacement of Density of concrete Kg/m3

10 15 37.48 49.05
Vermiculite
20 36.71 46.71
0% 2672.59
12.5 10 35.41 45.31
5% 2580.74

10% 2506.66 Table-7: To calculate the optimum percentage of Cylinders

with varying proportions of Mineral Admixtures is given
15% 2414.81 below.
20% 2328.88 Split Tensile Strength
Mix Designation
(N/mm2)
25% 2269.62
% of Silica Fume added +
7Days 28 Days
30% 2222.22 % Replacement of Fly ash

Table-5: Density of concrete with different % replacement 10 2.79 4.3

of vermiculite
5 15 2.85 4.39

20 2.78 4.28
Bulk Density Kg/m3

3000
2500 10 2.87 4.42
2000
1500 28Days 7.5 15 2.96 4.56
1000
500 20 2.89 4.45
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 10 3.04 4.68
% Replacement of Vermiculite
10 15 2.83 4.36

20 2.6 4

12.5 10 2.54 3.92

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60

Compressive Strength (N/mm 2)

Table-8: For optimum percentage of mineral
admixtures fine aggregate is partially replaced with 50
vermiculite i.e., (10%S.F+15%F.A) 40
30
Percentage 20
Replacement Compressive Strength (N/mm2)
S.no 10
of
0
Vermiculite
7Days 28Days 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
(%)
OptimumPercentage of mineral
admixtures and Replacement of
1. 0 37.48 49.05 Vermiculite (%)
7Days 28Days
2. 5 36.42 48.65

3. 10 35.67 46.98

4. 15 34.40 45.14 Fig-8: Graph shows the Compressive strengths for

Replacement of fine aggregate with vermiculite to the
5. 20 32.12 43.29 Optimum percentage of mineral admixtures for cubes i.e.,
(10%S.F+15%F.A)
6. 25 29.15 37.12
5
Split Tensile Strength (N/mm2)

7. 30 25.62 33.42 4.5

4
3.5
3
2.5
Table-9: For optimum percentage of mineral 2
admixtures fine aggregate is partially replaced with 1.5
1
vermiculite i.e., (10%S.F+10%F.A) 0.5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Percentage OptimumPercentage of mineral
Replacement Split Tensile Strength (N/mm2) admixtures and Replacement of
S.no Vermiculite (%)
of
7Days 28Days 7Days 28Days
Vermiculite
(%)
1. 0 3.04 4.68
Fig-9: Graph shows the strengths for Replacement of fine
2. 5 3.0 aggregate with vermiculite to the Optimum percentage of
4.62
mineral admixtures for cylinders i.e., (10%S.F+10%F.A)
3. 10 2.94 4.53 6. CONCLUSIONS
4. 15 2.85 4.39 Based on the experimental investigations conducted on the
casted cubes and cylinders the following conclusions were
5. 20 2.76 4.25 drawn.

6. 25 2.61 1. The compressive strength is increased 11.68% for

4.02 replacement of cement by 15% fly ash and addition
of 10% silica fume when compared with the
7. 30 2.5 3.86 nominal mix and it is considered as the optimum
mix.

2. The Split tensile strength is increased 11.96% for

replacement of cement by 10% fly ash and addition

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395 -0056
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of 10% silica fume when compared with the 5. Indian standard recommended guidelines for
nominal mix and it is considered as the optimum concrete mix design IS 10262-1982.
mix 6. Dinesh A, PadmanabanI and Maruthachalam M
(2016) Have done their experiment on structural
3. Though the compressive strength of concrete low density aggregate concrete it was designed with
decreases with increase of percentage of the use of expanded perlite aggregate, expanded
vermiculite, but with the replacement of fly ash at vermiculite aggregate that will provide an
15% and addition of silica fume at 10% to cement advantage of reducing dead weight of structure and
with replacement of vermiculite to fine aggregate to obtain a more economical structural low density
up to 20% may be accepted as it is giving required concrete by the use of these materials as a
target mean strength. replacement of the coarse aggregate.

4. Though the Split Tensile strength of concrete 7. Dharma Prakash R andDr.Sreevidya V (2016) Have
decreases with increase of percentage of studied the focus of the present study the explores
vermiculite, but with the replacement of fly ash at the strength and durability properties of light
10% and addition of silica fume at 10% to cement weight vermiculite concrete. Two varied types of
with replacement of vermiculite to fine aggregate light weight aggregates namely vermiculite and
up to 20% may be accepted as it is giving required perlite is been partially replaced with coarse
target mean strength. aggregate.
8. S.Sharmila and L.Vijayan (2016) Have study
5. vermiculite concrete can be used for crack and
replacement of the fine aggregate with the material
shrinkage resistance and it can be used in fire
called vermiculite. It belongs to the family of light
resisting structure.
weight aggregates. The exfoliated vermiculite is
used as a replacement of fine aggregate. This project
7. REFERENCES is mainly applicable in places where the
environmental temperature is very high. The
1. M.R.Divya, Prof.M.Rajalingam, Dr.Sunilaa George Replacements were done in 5, 10 and 15% of fine
(2016) “Study on Concrete with Replacement of aggregate
Fine Aggregates by Vermiculite” The main purpose
of the research is to study the strength parameters 9. Hariharan A R, Santhi A S and Mohan Ganesh G
such as compressive strength, split tensile & flexural (2011), “Study on Strength Development of High
strength. Strength Concrete Containing Fly Ash and Silica
Fume”, International Journal of Engineering Science
2. Chandra Sekar G, Hemanth Kumar Ch, V Manikanta, and Technology, Vol. 3, pp. 2955-2961.
M Simhachalam (2016) “Effect of Fly Ash on
Mechanical Properties of Light Weight Vermiculite 10. B. Krishna Kumari Bai, M. KantaRao Have their
Concrete” in which up to 20% shows optimum study high performance concrete with mineral
results and a significant increase in density admixtures, lower water cement ratio and super
andcompressive strength of light weight vermiculite plasticizers are used. Fly ash (FA) is replaced with
concrete. cement by various percentages i.e., 5%, 10%, 15%,
20%, 25% and silica fume (SF) as addition of 10%
3. S Syed Abdul Rahman, Gijo K Babu (2016)”An by weight of cement.
Experimental Investigation on Light Weight Cement
Concrete using Vermiculite Minerals” In this study, 11. IS 456- 2000 “Plain and reinforced concrete code of
structural light weight aggregate concrete was practice”.
designed with the use of natural vermiculite
aggregate that will provide an advantage of 12. IS 10262 - 2009 “Recommended guidelines for
reducing dead weight of structure and to obtain a concrete mi design”.
more economical structural light weight concrete by 13. Shetty.M.S (2005), “Concrete Technology Theory
the use of vermiculite power as a partial and Practice” S.Chand & Co, ltd., published in New
replacement of sand. Delhi.

4. Mr. M. Gunasekaran et al., (2016) “Study on

Vermiculite Incorporate in Mortar” Study on
Vermiculite replacing natural sand is investigated.
Design mix having the mix proportion 1:3 with the
water cement ratio 0.5

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