Effect of Aggregate Size Distribution on Concrete Compressive Strength

35

SUST Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 19, No. 5, 2012; P:35-39

Effect of Aggregate Size Distribution on Concrete Compressive

Strength
(Submitted: June 10, 2012; Accepted for Publication: November 29, 2012)

M. B. Haque1*, I. A. Tuhin2 and M.S.S. Farid3

1
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet,
Bangladesh. 2Department of Civil Engineering, World University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Email: [email protected]

Abstract
Effects of size distribution of both fine and coarse aggregate and maximum coarse
aggregate size on concrete compressive strength were analyzed. Other variables like water cement
ratio, aggregate cement ratios were kept constant and only 28 days compressive strength was
measured to evaluate the result. Mixtures of Sylhet sand and local sand were used as fine
aggregate and stone chips were used as coarse aggregate. Twelve set of cylinders were crushed
with different combination of fine aggregate having fineness modulus of 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 and
coarse aggregate having fineness modulus of 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 and 7.5. Maximum size of coarse
aggregates was 1.5 inch. From this study it was observed that compressive strength of concrete
increases with the increase of the fineness modulus of both fine and coarse aggregate. Maximum
compressive strength was found 3.87 ksi for concrete having fineness modulus for fine and coarse
aggregate as 3.0 and 7.5 respectively with mix ratio 1:2:4. Compressive strength of concrete
increases up to the maximum aggregate size of 1.5 inch. It was also found that compressive
strength has no linear relationship with the combine fineness modulus of aggregate.

Key Words: Grading, Fineness Modulus, Aggregate, Compressive Strength, Mix Ratio

1. Introduction
Compressive strength is the main qualitative measure of concrete. The 28 days strength is the most common
practices employed to determine the concrete compressive strength. To ensure the strength of hardened concrete,
testing of 6 inch × 12 inch cylinder is the normal practices since long [1]. It has been generally accepted that if the
aggregate volumes are so chosen that the packing density of the combined aggregates is maximum then the amount
of cementations paste volume required for a given amount of workability (i.e. slump) is reduced to a minimum.
Maximum aggregate packing density can be achieved using the well graded aggregate.
Grading of aggregate means particle size distribution of the aggregate. Principle of grading is that the smaller
size particles fill up the voids left in larger size particles. By adopting proper percentages, of various size aggregates,
composite aggregate mix can be developed which will be thoroughly graded. Properly graded aggregate produces
dense concrete and needs smaller quantities of fine aggregate and cement. The grading of aggregate is expressed in
terms of percentages by weight retained on a series of standard sieves. Sieves as the mesh size of 1.5 inch, 0.75inch,
0.375inch, 0.187inch ,0.0937inch sieve are used for grading of coarse aggregate and 0.375inch, 0.187inch, 0.0937,
0.0469inch, 0.0232inch, 0.0117inch and 0.0059inch are used for fine aggregate [2,3]. The main objectives of this
research is to evaluate the change of concrete compressive strength due to changing of aggregate fineness modulus
(FM) along with aggregate grading, maximum size of coarse aggregate and aggregate combine fineness modulus.
36 M. B. Haque , I. A. Tuhin and M. S. Farid

2. Methodology and Laboratory Investigation

2.1 Properties of Concrete Ingredients
The ingredients of the concrete mix were cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate and water. No admixture
was used in this study. Cement is a binder, a substance which sets and hardens independently and can bind other
materials together. Ordinary Portland Cement was used as binding materials for the preparation of fresh concrete.
The aggregate most of which passes through No. 4(0.187 inch) sieve are classified as fine aggregate [4]. Fine
aggregate used in this study were sieved in laboratory to obtain predefined FM and grading. The fine aggregate were
than washed with water and dried in air before use. The properties of the aggregate were measured first in the
laboratory. Three different samples were prepared with FM of 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0. Gradation curves of the fine
aggregate having different FM were drawn which is shown in Figure 1 and compared with the standard gradation
zone of fine aggregate recommended by ASTM standard [2]. Gradation of sample having FM 2.0 and 3.0 falls
partially outside the standard gradation zone and sample having FM 2.5 are within the standard gradation limit.

Figure 1: Gradation Curve of fine aggregate with standard gradation

Aggregate usually occupies about 70 to 75 percent of the total volume of the mass of concrete, in which the
coarse aggregate takes the major part. As such its selection and proportioning should be given carefully attention in
order to control the quality of the concrete structures. Coarse aggregate having different size distribution were used
in this study. 1.5 inch downgrade, 0.75 inch downgrade and 0.5 inch downgrade aggregate were used with fineness
modulus of 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 and 7.5. Properties of these aggregate were determined in the laboratory.

The maximum size of coarse aggregate depends upon the nature of work for which the concrete is used.
Literature [2] reveals that concrete compressive strength increases upto a maximum aggregate size of 1.5 inch. From
a stand point of minimum void space round aggregate are more desirable that irregular. From the stand point of
ability to bond with the mortar, the rounded aggregate may be inferior, however so that in general the shape of the
particles will be found to be much less important that their size and hardness. Thin flat pieces should be discarded.
Sample coarse aggregate were prepared in laboratory to obtain the predefine FM and grading like as fine aggregate.
Gradation of these samples are shown in Figure 2 to 5 showing their standard zone.
Effect of Aggregate Size Distribution on Concrete Compressive Strength
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Fig: 2 Gradation Curve of Sample having FM-6.0 Fig: 3 Gradation Curve of Sample having FM-6.5

Fig: 4 Gradation Curve of Sample having FM-7.0 Fig: 5 Gradation Curve of Sample having FM-7.5

2.2 Preparation of Concrete Cylinder

Twelve set of Cylinder were prepared. FM of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate of each set of cylinder were
distinct. For example, FM of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate for cylinder set one were 2.0 and 6.0 respectively
and incase of cylinder set two, FM of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate were 2.0 and 6.5 respectively. Water
cement ratio were kept same (0.5) for all the concrete mixture. Cement, sand, aggregate ratio was also uniform with
ratio of 1:2:4. At beginning, aggregate of predefined fineness modulus were prepared by sieving the raw aggregate.
Fine aggregate and coarse of different combination of FM were mix cement with the mix ratio of 1:2:4. Then water
was added to make workable concrete past. All mixtures were done on weight basis. Mixing of concrete were
performed by hand molding.

3. Results and Discussion

Higher fineness modulus of aggregate represents larger aggregate size. Compressive strength of aggregate are
closely related with the aggregate grading as well as size also. Generally concrete compressive strength increases
with the increase of aggregate fineness modulus, size of aggregate. If size of aggregate in concrete increases, surface
area will reduce. Then quantity of cementing materials per unit surface area will increase which increase bond stress
with resulting increase of concrete compressive strength.
38 M. B. Haque , I. A. Tuhin and M. S. Farid

The change of concrete compressive strength with fineness modulus of coarse aggregate (CAFM) is shown in
Figure 6. From figure, it can be stated that compressive strength increases with the increases of coarse aggregate
fineness modulus. Increase of fine aggregate fineness modulus (FAFM) along with the increase CAFM, concrete
compressive strength increases in a significant amount. Kamruzzaman et al. [5] also found similar result and showed
that maximum compressive strength was observed with fineness modulus of fine aggregate of 2.81. Lower FM of
both fine aggregate and coarse aggregate show comparatively low compressive strength. Maximum compressive
strength was found as 3.87 ksi when fineness modulus of both fine and coarse aggregate were maximum (3.0 and
7.5 respectively) and were well graded. Fine aggregate having fineness modulus 2.0 is not well graded as compared
to ASTM grading requirement which is shown in Figure 1 that’s why it gives low compressive strength.

Fig 6: Change of concrete compressive strength with Fig 7: Change of concrete compressive strength with the
the fineness modulus of course aggregate fineness modulus of fine aggregate

The change of concrete compressive strength with variation of fineness modulus of fine aggregate is shown in
Figure 7. This figure also represents that compressive strength increases with the increases of fineness modulus of
fine aggregate and coarse aggregate. Coarse aggregate having fineness modulus 6.0 is not well graded according to
ASTM C 33-93 grading requirement that’s why it gives low compressive strength.
Aggregate up to 1.5 inch maximum size, concrete compressive strength increases. Aggregate above 1.5 in
maximum size the gain in strength due to the reduced water requirement is offset by the detrimental effect of lower
bond area and of discontinuities introduced by the very large particles [2]. Relation of concrete compressive strength
with maximum size of coarse aggregate is shown in Figure 8. Concrete compressive strength increases rapidly due
change of maximum aggregate size up to 0.75 inch. Further increase of maximum aggregate size has small
contribution to concrete compressive strength.

Fig 8: Influence of maximum size of aggregate Fig 9 : Relation of concrete compressive strength with
on compressive strength of concrete combine fineness modulus of aggregate.
Effect of Aggregate Size Distribution on Concrete Compressive Strength
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Response of concrete compressive strength with combined fineness modulus of aggregate is also analyzed and
shown in Figure 9. From figure, there is no linear relationship of concrete compressive strength with the combine
fineness modulus of aggregate.

5. Conclusion

A small scale laboratory base study was presented in this paper. Result states that compressive strength of concrete
are strongly influenced by aggregate size distribution as well as fineness modulus. Due to the increase of the
fineness modulus of aggregate, compressive strength increases considerably. Maximum compressive was achieved
3.87 ksi for the concrete with fineness modulus of fine and coarse aggregate 3.0 and 7.5 respectively. Minimum
strength was found 2.7 ksi for the concrete with fineness modulus of fine and coarse aggregate 2.0 and 6.0
respectively. Compressive strength also increases with the increases of maximum aggregate size up to 1.5 inch.
Finally is observed that though concrete compressive strength is influenced by aggregate FM but it is independent to
combined fineness modulus of aggregate.

References

[1] M.M. Islam et al., Effect of Specimen Size on the Compressive Strength of Brick Aggregate Grading, B.Sc.
Engineering Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology,
Gazipur, Bangladesh (2005).
[2] A.M. Neville, Properties of Concrete, Fourth and Final Edition, Pearson Education (2005)
[3] G. Singh and J. Singh, Building Materials, Third Edition, Standard Publishers Distributors (1998.)
[4] M. A. Aziz, Engineering Materials, First Edition (1995).
[5] M. Kamruzzaman el al, Effect of Fine Aggregate Size on The Properties of Brick Aggregate Concrete, B.Sc.
Engineering Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology,
Gazipur, Bangladesh (2004).