STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE CONTAINING LATERITE AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR FINE AGGREGATE

ABSTRACT The need to reduce the high cost of concrete production resulting from increasing cost of fine aggregate formed the basis for the study. The study was undertaken to effect of partial replacement of sand with laterite on strength properties of concrete. Laterite sample was added to sand in an increasing order of 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% by weight of sand. Experimental testing was conducted so as to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of sand with laterite on strength properties of concrete. These tests are: sieve analysis test, specific gravity test, bulk density test, slump test and compressive strength test. Results obtained from sieve analysis test revealed that granite, sand and laterite were classified as A-1-b, A-2-4 and A-2-6 according to AASHTO Soil Classification System, GC, SM and SC according to Unified Soil Classification System, the specific gravity of granite, sand and laterite were 2.61, 2.55 and 2.66 respectively, the liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index of the laterite sample was 42.4%, 25.9% and 16.5%. The slump of the concrete increased from 0% addition of laterite to 15% addition of laterite to sand, the hardened density and compressive strength of the concrete increased from 0% addition of laterite to sand to 10% addition of laterite to sand beyond 10% laterite content, the hardened density and compressive strength was found to decrease. This study therefore discourage the use of laterite as partial substitute for sand in concrete beyond 5% addition of laterite to sand as the compressive strength of the concrete were found to decrease.