PROPERTIES OF HIGH STRENGTH MORTAR INCORPORATING

QUARRY SAND

By

NAJIBU AUWALU NAMADINA

BACHELOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING (HONS)

INFRASTRUCTURE UNIVERSITY KUALA LUMPUR (IUKL)

SEPT/OCT 2018

ABSTRACT
The replacements and incorporation of quarry sand and normal sand in the mortar mix were used to
produce high workable mortars with high compressive strength in the range of 50-100 MPa. All the
specimens in the experiment were tested for compressive strength, workability and durability of the
specimens. The results obtained in the study showed that replacements between quarry sand and
normal sand can produce high results, the study of the specimens showcase at which replacement
percentage the mortar was able to achieve optimum strength, optimum workability and optimum
durability. At a ratio of 50:50, optimum results way obtained. Furthermore, these results that were
obtained was a result of keeping the weight of cement constant and the percentage of
superplasticizer constant. So, by keeping cement and superplasticizer constant and using 50% of
quarry sand and 50% of normal sand in the mix, the compressive strength is quite significant while
workability is also at its highest. As, a conclusion it is recommended to use some type of
replacement when conducting experiments regarding high strength mortar or concrete, this is
because by using pozzolans as your replacement materials you can achieve desired results in the
concrete class as shown by previous research and studies.
Keywords: compressive strength, normal sand, OPC, superplasticizer, quarry sand, workability.

ABSTRAK

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Penggantian dan penggabungan pasir kuari dan pasir biasa dalam campuran mortar
digunakan untuk menghasilkan mortar yang dapat digunakan dengan kekuatan mampatan
yang tinggi dalam kisaran 50-100 MPa. Semua spesimen dalam eksperimen telah diuji untuk
kekuatan mampatan, kebolehkerjaan dan daya tahan spesimen. Keputusan yang diperolehi
dalam kajian menunjukkan bahawa penggantian antara pasir kuari dan pasir biasa dapat
menghasilkan hasil yang tinggi, kajian pameran spesimen di mana peratusan penggantian
mortar dapat mencapai kekuatan optimum, keupayaan optimum dan ketahanan optimum.
Pada nisbah 50:50, hasil keputusan optimum diperolehi. Selain itu, keputusan yang diperolehi
adalah hasil daripada mengekalkan beratnya persamaan simen dan peratusan pemalar
superplasticizer. Oleh itu, dengan mengekalkan simen dan superplasticizer malar dan
menggunakan 50% pasir kuari dan 50% daripada pasir biasa dalam campuran, kekuatan
mampatan adalah agak ketara manakala kebolehkerjaan juga paling tinggi. Sebagai
kesimpulan, disyorkan untuk menggunakan beberapa jenis penggantian apabila menjalankan
eksperimen mengenai mortar atau konkrit kekuatan tinggi, ini kerana dengan menggunakan
pozzolans sebagai bahan pengganti anda, anda dapat mencapai hasil yang diinginkan dalam
kelas konkrit seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh penyelidikan dan kajian terdahulu.

Kata kunci: kekuatan mampatan, pasir biasa, OPC, superplasticizer, pasir kuari,
kebolehkerjaan.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to gratitude all those people who have given contributions

significantly from the preparation of report until the success of completion of report. I wish to

express my greatest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. A.B.M.A. Kaish for all his guidance, valuable

advice and inspiration encouragement throughout the entire duration of this project. I would also like

to show my gratitude to Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL) for providing all means and

facilities in completing the lab tests required for this study. This appreciate also goes to Mr.

Odimegwu Temple Chimuanya, Lab Executive Mr. Zuhai for their help in assisting me to carry out

the lab experiments.

Last but not least, I would like to convey my special thanks to my friends and all my

lecturers who willing to support each other in giving helpful opinion and assistant that led to the

completion of the research.

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 APPROVAL SHEET

This research entitled “Properties of High Strength Mortar Incorporating Pozzolans and Quarry

Sand” is prepared and submitted by Najibu Auwalu Namadina, 153916167 as partial fulfilment of

the requirement for Bachelor of Civil Engineering (HONS), Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur

(IUKL).

Approved By:

…………………………..

Name of Supervisor : Dr. A.B.M Amrul Kaish

Date :

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 DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATE

I, Najibu Auwalu Namadina, confirm that the work in this thesis is my own work and the

appropriate credit has been given where references have been made to the work of other researches.

………………………….

Student Name : Najibu Auwalu Namadina

Student ID : 153916167

Date :

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT ii
ABSTRAK iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
APPROVAL SHEET v
DECLARATION vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LIST OF FIGURES ix
LIST OF TABLES x
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xii
LIST OF APPENDICES xiii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 General 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 Research Objectives 6
1.4 Scope of Study 7
1.5 Significance of Study 8
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction 9
2.2 High Strength Mortar (HSM) 9
2.2.1 Composition of High Strength Mortar 10
2.2.2 Properties of High Strength Mortar 11
2.2.3 Benefits of HSM 11

2.3 Previous Research on HSM 12

2.3.1 D. Mostofinejad et al (2016) 12

2.3.2 A. Zenati el al. (2009) 16

2.3.3 W.z. Zheng et al. 19

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 2.3.4 Mehmet Canbaz (2014) 21

CHAPTER 3: 2.3.5 H. Yazici et al. 22

2.3.6 M.J. Shannag et al. (2000) 23

2.3.7 M. Ghrici et al. 27

2.3.8 M. Galetais et al. 30

2.4 Research Gap 32

METHODOLOGY

34
3.1 Introduction
35
3.2 Research Framework
36
3.3 Materials
36
3.3.1 Cement
37
3.3.2 Fine Aggregate
38
3.3.3 Superplasticizer
38
3.3.4 Water
39
3.4 Mix Design
41
3.5 Mixing Process
41
3.6 Method of Curing
42
3.7 Experiments
42
3.7.1 Slump Test
43
3.7.2 V-funnel Test

3.7.3 Compressive Strength Test

3.8 Expected Results 46

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

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 4.1 Introduction 47
47
4.2 Properties of Fresh Concrete
47

4.2.1 Concrete Workability

4.3 Compressive Strength Test 50-59

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Introduction 60

5.2 Conclusion 60

LIST OF FIGURES

Descriptions Page

Figure 2.1 Flow of time according dosage of superplasticizer. 17

Figure 2.2 22
Ground granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash content influence
on compressive strength with respect to curing regimes.

Figure 2.3 Compressive strength based on age. 26

Figure 2.3 Compressive strength based on age. 27

Figure 3.1 35
The works has been plan as shown in the organization chart of
works schedule.

Figure 3.2 Slump test procedure. 42

Figure 3.3 V-funnel test procedure. 43

Figure 3.4 Test machine for Compressive test. 44

Figure 4.1 49
Bar chart showing Slump ranges for each concrete mix with
different percentages of normal sand and quarry sand.

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Figure 4.2 49
Shows the flowability ranges for the fresh mortar using V-funnel
test in a bar chart.

Figure 4.3 Results of compressive strength for 7, 28 and 56 days. 51

Figure 4.4 Compressive strength for 7 days. 52

Figure 4.5 Compressive strength for 28 days.

Figure 4.6 Compressive strength for 56 days.

LIST OF TABLES

Descriptions

Table 2.1 Modification of RPC specimens through different steps. 13

Table 2.2 Mixture used for experiment 19

Table 2.3 Mix ratio for the experiment 21

Table 2.4 Mix Proportion 24

Table 2.5 Flextural strength and compressive strength tests 28

Table 3.1 Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) chemical composition (L.J. 36

Murdock (1979).

Table 3.2 Fine aggregate grade limits 37

Table 3.3 Details for material testing 39

Table 3.4 Mix Proportion for RPC 40

Table 3.5 Gnat Charts for Thesis 1 and Thesis 2 45

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Table 4.1 Range of workability tests based on ASTM Standards 48

Table 4.2 Properties of fresh concrete for High Strength Mortar 48

Table 4.3 Compressive strength data for 7, 28 and 56 days. 51

Table 4.4 Compressive strength for 7 days 52

Table 4.5 Compressive strength for 28 days 54

Table 4.6 Compressive strength for 56 days 56

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ACI American Concrete Institute

HSM High Strength Mortar

OPC Ordinary Portland Cement

HPC High Performance concrete

UHPC Ultra-high-Performance Concrete

w/c Water to Cement ratio

RPC Reactive Powder Concrete

SiO2 Silicon Dioxide

ASTM American Standard Test for Mortar

NWQS National Water Quality Standard

rpm Revolutions per minute

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 LIST OF APPENDICES

Descriptions Page

APPENDIX A

A1 Mortar Mold 1 66

A2 Mortar Mold 2 66

A3 Normal Sand 66

A4 Quarry Sand 66

A5 Mixing of the mixture. 67

A6 Mixture mixing using drill. 67

A7 Cone used for slump test. 67

A8 Slump Test Spread. 67

A9 Curing bath. 68

A10 Mortar specimen after curing. 68

A11 Parameters for testing specimens. 68

Compressive Strength of one specimen. 68
A12
APPENDIX B

B1 Mix Design 69
APPENDIX C

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C1 Results obtained for all cubes at different ages of curing. 70

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