Dr. T. Sekar et al.
/ International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)
STUDIES ON STRENGTH
CHARACTERISTICS ON UTILIZATION
OF WASTE MATERIALS AS COARSE
AGGREGATE IN CONCRETE
DR. T. SEKAR
Department of Civil Engineering, Anna University of Technology Madurai,
Ramanathapuram campus,
Ramanathapuram, TamilNadu, [Link]
tsekar65@[Link]
[Link]
N. GANESAN1
Assistant Professor (III) & Research Scholar, Kalasalingam University,
Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil, Srivilliputtur, Virudhunagar Dt., TamilNadu, [Link]
ganesan139@[Link]
[Link]
DR. [Link]
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,
Kalasalingam University, Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil,
Srivilliputtur, Virudhunagar Dt., TamilNadu, [Link]
nvnnn@[Link]
[Link]
Abstract:
Depletion of natural resources is a common phenomenon in developing countries like India due to
rapid urbanization and Industrialization involving construction of Infrastructure and other amenities. In view of
this, people have started searching for suitable other viable alternative materials for concrete so that the existing
natural resources could be preserved to the possible extent, for the future generation. In this process, different
industrial waste materials such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, quarry dust, tile waste, brick bats, broken glass
waste, waste aggregate from demolition of structures, ceramic insulator waste, etc. have been tried as a viable
substitute material to the conventional materials in concrete and has also been succeeded. This paper describes
the studies conducted on strength characteristics of concrete made with utilizing waste materials viz: ceramic
tiles, ceramic insulator waste, and broken glass pieces. A total number of 24cubes, 24 cylinders and 24 beams
were cast and tested for compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength using industrial
wastes and the results presented. It was found that, the concrete made of waste ceramic tile aggregate produced
more strength in compression, split tensile and flexure than ceramic insulator scrap and broken glass material.
This paper recommends that waste ceramic tiles can be used as an alternate construction material to coarse
aggregate in concrete.
Keywords: concrete; ceramic tiles waste aggregate; glass waste aggregate; ceramic insulator waste
aggregate
1. Introduction
Owing to liberalization, privatization, and globalization, the construction of important infrastructure
projects like Expressways, Airports, nuclear plants etc in India is increasing year after year. Such developmental
activities consume large quantity of precious natural resources. This leads to faster depletion of natural
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resources on one side and manifold increase in the cost of construction of structures on the other side pose
severe problem for the construction sector. This problem is very severe in developing countries like India.
In view of this, people have started searching for suitable other viable alternative materials which could be used
either as an additive or as a partial replacement to the conventional ingredients of concrete so that the existing
natural resources could be saved to the possible extent, and could be made available for the future generation. In
this process, different industrial waste materials such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, quarry dust, tile waste, brick
bats, broken glass waste, waste aggregate from demolition of structures, ceramic insulator waste, etc. have been
tried as a viable substitute material to the conventional materials in concrete and has also been succeeded.
Weihua Jin, Christian Meyer and Stephen Baxter (2000) suggested that the use of crushed waste glass as an
aggregate in concrete has several advantages in terms of strength. If used in large quantities in compressibility
products such as concrete masonry blocks, the solid waste disposal problem faced can noticeably be reduced [1].
R.M. Senthamarai, [Link].,(2005) suggested that the compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strengths of
ceramic waste coarse aggregate are lower by 3.8, 18.2 and 6% respectively when compared to conventional
concrete[2]. [Link] Brito. A.S. Pereira, J.R. Correia (2005) suggested ceramic tile aggregates can be used in
elements in which the primary requirement is not compressive strength. However, it can be used in members
wherein tensile strength and abrasion resistance are of primary importance, such as for concrete pavement
slabs[3].
Information regarding studies on concrete made with different wastes is available in different forms in a
scattered manner, and has also not adequately reached the large volume of stakeholders engaged in the
construction activities across the length and breadth of our country. Due to this, the effective utilization of
potential industrial waste materials in concrete has not attained the expected level in India even today. Hence,
there is a compulsion on the part of civil engineering community, to take appropriate strategies so that the
consumption of such potential waste by the construction industries will be on rise day-by-day leading to a green
environment which is of-course the need of the hour for our nation. This paper deals with the experimental
studies made on compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength of concrete made with
industrial wastes ceramic insulator scrap, broken glasses and ceramic floor tiles.
2. Experimental Programme:
2.1 Material Properties
Ordinary Portland Cement 43 grade confirming to IS 8112 – 1989, [4], locally available river sand of
specific gravity 2.506 and fineness modulus 2.583 confirming to IS 383-1970[5] and natural crushed stone
aggregate of maximum size 12.5 mm with specific gravity 2.5 and fineness modulus 7.839 were used in the
conventional concrete. The physical and mechanical properties of the materials were tested as per IS 2386 (Part
I-VIII) -1960[6].
2.2 Properties of coarse aggregates
The properties of the coarse aggregates are given in Table 1. The surface texture of the ceramic tile
aggregates was found to be smoother than that of crushed stone aggregate. The other properties of the coarse
aggregates such as crushing, impact and abrasion values were found close to the natural crushed stone
aggregate.
Table 1: Properties of Aggregates
Property Stone Ceramic Glass Tiles
Specific gravity 2.506 2.200 2.500 2.300
Fineness Modulus 7.839 7.854 7.863 7.951
Maximum size(mm) 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5
Crushing Value (%) 22 27 31 27
Impact Value (%) 13 17 22 20
Abrasion Value (%) 20 23 27 24
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Dr. T. Sekar et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)
2.3 Mix proportions
The mix proportion of 1:1.23:2.64 (cement: fine aggregate: coarse aggregate) by weight was arrived for M20
concrete with the conventional aggregates. It was found that, the minimum water content required for the mix is
201 litres per cubic meter of concrete as per IS 10262 -2009[7]. Keeping this water content as constant, mix
proportions were arrived for the ceramic waste, crushed glass and broken tile wastes. The mix proportions for
M20 grade concrete as per IS 10262 -2009[7] for various coarse aggregates are presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Mix proportions
w/c ratio Cement content Mix Proportions (By volume)
Grade (By weight) ( kg/m3) C:FA:CA
A 0.49 411.16 1:1.23:2.64
B 0.49 411.16 1:1.22:2.32
C 0.49 411.16 1:1.22:2.66
D 0.49 411.16 1:1.22:2.43
A – Controlled specimens
B – Ceramic insulator scraps (100%)
C - Crushed Glass (100%)
D- Tile waste (100%)
In the mix proportion for concrete using waste aggregates, the conventional stone aggregate was completely
replaced by ceramic insulator scrap, broken tiles and broken glass.
Fig. 1a Broken Tile aggregate Fig. 1b Broken glass pieces
2.4 Casting and Testing of specimen
Totally 72 specimens, (cubes, cylinders and beams, each 24 numbers) were cast to determine their
compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength after 7 days and 28 days of curing. For each
mix, three cubes of size 100mm, three cylinders of size 100 mm diameter and 200 mm long and three beams of
size 100 x 100 x 500mm were cast to determine the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural
strength of the specimens at 7 days and 28 days. The specimens were demoulded after 24 hours of casting and
cured at 27 ± 2 ° C until the test age. All the tests were conducted as per IS 516 – 1959.[8].
3. Results and Discussions
4.1. Compressive strength.
The compressive strength values varied from 4.763 MPa to 7.175 MPa for 7 days strength. Also, it varied
from 15.66 MPa to 21.26 MPa for 28 days. It was found that, there was not much variation in the compressive
strength of conventional concrete and crushed stone aggregate concrete. The strength of the concrete with
different coarse aggregates is given in Table 3. The compressive strength of concrete cubes made with ceramic
insulator and glass concrete were found to be 16% and 26.34 % lesser respectively than that of conventional
concrete. The reasons may be due to smooth surface texture of these aggregates and poor bonding properties of
the matrix with aggregates.
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Dr. T. Sekar et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)
Fig 2. Compression Testing
4.2. Splitting tensile strength
The splitting tensile strength values varied from 0.790 MPa to 0.918 MPa at 7 days and 2.940 MPa to 3.244
MPa at 28 days. It was observed that, as far as the splitting strength is concerned, the concrete with broken tiles
as coarse aggregate gave values nearer to that of conventional aggregate concrete. Similarly, the ceramic
aggregate concrete gave the next higher strength.
Fig 3. Split tensile test
4.3 Flexural strength
The flexural strength results were found in the range of 8.699 MPa to 10.368 MPa for 7 days and it is from
13.945 MPa to 18.015 MPa for 28 days. From the results, it was observed that, the tile aggregate concrete can
produce strength results similar to that of conventional aggregate concrete for both at 7 and 28 days. The results
of the above tests were tabulated in Table 3.
Fig 4. Flexural Testing arrangement
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Dr. T. Sekar et al. / International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)
Table 3: Comparison of Strength Results
Ave. Compressive Strength Ave. Splitting Ave. Flexural Strength
Grade (MPa) Tensile Strength ( MPa) ( MPa)
7 Days 28 Days 7 Days 28 Days 7 Days 28 Days
A 6.811 21.26 0.856 3.244 10.368 17.133
B 5.671 17.86 0.846 2.887 9.781 16.900
C 4.763 15.66 0.790 2.940 8.699 13.945
D 7.175 20.23 0.918 2.950 9.913 18.015
5. Conclusions:
Based on the studies conducted on strength characteristics of concrete made with utilizing waste materials, it
was found that the concrete made of waste ceramic tile aggregate produced similar strength in compression, split
tensile and flexure as conventional concrete. The compressive strength of concrete cubes made with ceramic
insulator and glass concrete were found to be 16% and 26.34 % lesser respectively than that of conventional
concrete. It was also found that the flexural strength and splitting tensile strength results were similar to that of
compression strength test results. Hence, it can be seen that waste ceramic tiles can be used as an alternate
construction material to coarse aggregate in concrete. Besides economical and strength criteria, concrete made
from waste materials as aggregates, solves the disposal problem of these waste materials.
References
[1] Weihua Jin, Christian Meyer and Stephen Baxter, (2000), Glascrete – Concrete with Glass Aggregate, ACI Materials
Journal/March-April 2000 pp 208-213.
[2] Senthamarai. RM, [Link] Manoharan, (2005) Concrete with ceramic waste aggregate, Cement & Concrete
composites 27, 910-913.
[3] Brito [Link]., Pereira A.S., Correia J.R., (2005), Mechanical behaviour of non-structural concrete made with recycled
ceramic aggregates, Cement & Concrete composites, pp 429-433.
[4] IS 8112 – 1989 Specification for 43grade Ordinary Portland Cement, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
[5] IS 383: 1970-Specification for coarse and fine aggregates from natural sources for concrete, Bureau of Indian Standards,
New Delhi.
[6] IS 2386 (Part I-VIII) -1960, Indian standards method of testing for concrete, (First revision), Bureau of Indian Standards,
New Delhi, India.
[7] IS 10262:2009, Indian standard concrete mix proportioning - Guidelines (First revision), Bureau of Indian Standards, New
Delhi, India.
[8] IS 516: 1959 –Method of tests for strength of concrete, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
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