Sustainable valorisation of sand concrete properties using quarry waste as crushed sand

Abstract

This study explores the possibility of reusing quarry waste in the form of powdered sand to produce environmentally friendly sand concrete, with a focus on addressing environmental sustainability. The investigation comprised the preparation of five concrete mixtures with differing limestone sand ratios: 0%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%. To evaluate the impact of limestone sand incorporation, analysed physical and mechanical characteristics through tests such as density, compressive and flexural strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, dynamic elastic modulus, and microstructure analysis. Findings indicate substantial enhancements in sand concrete properties due to the integration of limestone sand, with the 60% ratio emerging as the most productive. The study underscores limestone sand’s capability to not only improve sand concrete quality but also offer a sustainable method for quarry waste recycling. It demonstrates the beneficial impact of limestone sand used in sand concrete and advocates for its application as a sustainable quarry waste recycling strategy across the construction industry’s various sectors.