Strength appraisal of artificial sand as fine aggregate in SFRC

The huge quantity concrete is consumed by the construction industry all over the world, probably second largest after water. In India, the conventional concrete is produced by using natural sand from riverbeds as fine aggregate. Dwindling sand resources poses the environmental problem and hence government restrictions on sand quarrying resulted in scarcity and significant increase in its cost. This paper presents the study of steel fiber reinforced concrete with artificial sand as fine aggregate. Three matrices with compressive strength 20, 30 and 40 MPa were designed and reinforced with crimpled steel fibers at dosage rate of volume fraction 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 percent. The specimens were prepared, cured and tested for compressive strength, flexural strength and split tensile strength. The strength of steel fiber reinforced natural sand concrete (SFRNSC) and steel fiber reinforced artificial sand concrete (SFRASC) have been compared with the test data from the present study. The promotional use of artificial sand will conserve the natural resources for the sustainable development of the concrete in construction industry.