Impact of Water-Cement Ratio and Desert Sand Powder on the Mechanical Properties of Eco-Self-Compacting Concrete

Said Zaouai; Farid Benmerioul; Abdelkadir Makkani; Ahmed Tafraoui; Rachid Rabehi

doi:10.18540/jcecvl10iss8pp20748

Authors

Said Zaouai Laboratory of Eco-materials: Innovations & Applications (EMIA), Civil Engineering Department, University of Djelfa, 17000 Djelfa, Algeria
Farid Benmerioul Laboratory of Eco-materials: Innovations & Applications (EMIA), Civil Engineering Department, Mohamed El Bachir El Ibrahimi University Elbourdj B, Algeria
Abdelkadir Makkani Laboratory of Eco-materials: Innovations & Applications (EMIA), Civil Engineering Department, TAHRI Mohamed University, Bechar, Algeria
Ahmed Tafraoui Laboratory of Eco-materials: Innovations & Applications (EMIA), Civil Engineering Department, TAHRI Mohamed University, Bechar, Algeria
Rachid Rabehi Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, Bab Ezzouar, 16111 Algiers, Algeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18540/jcecvl10iss8pp20748

Keywords:

Eco-self-compacting concrete, Water-cement ratio, Dune sand powder, Compressive strength, Sustainable construction materials

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of varying water-cement (w/c) ratios (0.40-0.55) and the incorporation of 10% powdered dune sand from Taghit, Algeria, on eco-self-compacting concrete (E-SCC) properties. The research explores the potential of utilizing abundant desert sand resources as a partial cement replacement while maintaining concrete performance. Through experimental analysis and response surface methodology (RSM), the study demonstrates that lower w/c ratios significantly enhance compressive strength, with optimal performance achieved at a 0.40 w/c ratio reaching 55 MPa. The findings reveal that decreasing the w/c ratio reduces porosity and improves the concrete's overall structural integrity. Capillary absorption tests indicate that while E-SCC with a 0.40 w/c ratio shows slightly higher initial absorption rates over the first two hours, it demonstrates better long-term performance over 24 hours compared to higher w/c ratios. The results confirm that incorporating 10% powdered dune sand while maintaining a low w/c ratio can produce high-performance eco-self-compacting concrete that meets industry standards for workability and strength, offering a sustainable alternative for construction applications.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

AFGC French Civil Engineering Association, Recommendations for use of self-compacting concrete (2008), Scientific and technical documents. Available from https://www.afgc.asso.fr/publication/recommendations-for-use-of-self-compacting-concrete.

Agha, N., Makkani, A., Tafraoui, A., & Zaouai, S. (2023). Improving the physical and mechanical properties new concrete containing crushed dune sand and demolition waste as coarse aggregate. The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences, 9(5), 16002-01e. https://doi.org/10.18540/jcecvl9iss5pp16002-01e

Aidjouli, Y., Belebchouche, C., Hammoudi, A., Kadri, E. H., Zaouai, S., & Czarnecki, S. (2024). Modeling the Properties of Sustainable Self-Compacting Concrete Containing Marble and Glass Powder Wastes Using Response Surface Methodology. Sustainability, 16(5), 1972. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051972

Alhozaimy, A., Alawad, O. A., Jaafar, M. S., Al-Negheimish, A., & Noorzaei, J. (2014). Use of fine ground dune sand as a supplementary cementing material. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 20(1), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2013.768541

Arroudj, K., Dorbani, S., Oudjit, M. N., & Tagnit-Hamou, A. (2018). Use of Algerian natural mineral deposit as supplementary cementitious materials. International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa, 34, 48-58. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/JERA.34.48

Benmerioul, F., Makani, A., Tafraoui, A., & Zaouai, S. (2017). Valorization of the Crushed Dune Sand in the Formulation of Self-compacting-concrete. Procedia engineering, 171, 672-678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.01.408

Dahmani, S., & Kriker, A. (2016, July). Contribution to the physical-mechanical study of cement CRS basis of dune-sand powder and other minerals. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 1758, No. 1). AIP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4959438

Guettala, S., & Mezghiche, B. (2011). Compressive strength and hydration with age of cement pastes containing dune sand powder. Construction and building materials, 25(3), 1263-1269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.09.026

Liu D., Sui W. Analysis of the influence of the water/cement ratio on the performance of permeable concrete. (2020) Concrete. 141–143."

Liu, M., Liu, E., Hao, J. L., Di Sarno, L., & Xia, J. (2023). Hydration and material properties of blended cement with ground desert sand. Construction and Building Materials, 389, 131624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131624

Lyamine, B., Belkacem, B., & Noureddine, L. (2024). Valorization of limestone quarry fillers in cementitious mixtures. South Florida Journal of Development, 5(11), e4668-e4668. https://doi.org/10.46932/sfjdv5n11-035

Meymouna, M., Bachir, G., Othmane, A., & Rabehi, R. (2023). Contribution to the non-destructive evaluation of bituminous mixes by electrical measurements. The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences, 9(8), 16003-01eup. https://doi.org/10.18540/jcecvl9iss8pp16003-01eup

Naas, A., Taha-Hocine, D., Salim, G., & Michèle, Q. (2022). Combined effect of powdered dune sand and steam-curing using solar energy on concrete characteristics. Construction and Building Materials, 322, 126474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.126474

Rennani, F. Z., Makani, A., Agha, N., Tafraoui, A., Benmerioul, F., & Zaoiai, S. (2020). Mechanical properties of high-performance concrete made incorporating dune sand as fine aggregate. Revista Romana de Inginerie Civila, 11(1), 37-46. https://www.rric.ro/reviste/articole/vol11nr1art5.pdf.

Rabehi, R., Mohamed, A., Mohamed, R., & Mohammed, O. (2023a). Effect of additions on the self-compacting concrete's absorption. The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences, 9(6), 16058-01e. https://doi.org/10.18540/jcecvl9iss6pp16058-01e

Rabehi, R., Amieur, M., & Rabehi, M. (2023, July). The effect of finely ground dune sand on the properties of self-compacting concrete. In International Conference on Recent Academic Studies (Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 984-988). https://doi.org/10.59287/icaens.1120

Rabehi, R., Rabehi, M., & Omrane, M. (2023). Physical-mechanical and fresh state properties of self-compacting concrete based on different types of gravel reinforced with steel fibers: Experimental study and modeling. Construction and Building Materials, 390, 131758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131758

Rabehi, R., Mohamed, R., & Mohammed, O. (2023). Study of the durability of self-compacting concrete made from recycled gravel. The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences, 9(4), 15927-01e. https://doi.org/10.18540/jcecvl9iss4pp15927-01e

Shahid, M., & Sglavo, V. M. (2024). Effect of water-to-quick setting cement ratio and aggregate size on mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy of binder jetting 3D-printed bodies. Open Ceramics, 100704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceram.2024.100704

Tafraoui, A., & Lebaili, S. (2006). Valorization of the sand of dune of the western erg (Algeria) in the formulation of the UHPC. Journal of Applied Sciences, 6(13), 2833-2836. https://doi.org/10.3923/jas.2006.2833.2836

Wang, Y., Hu, H. X., Wang, N., Yan, C., Chen, S. J., & Zhou, L. (2017). Experimental study of effects of water-cement ratio on the acoustic emission rate “a” values in concrete. Russian Journal of Nondestructive Testing, 53, 620-635. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1061830917090091

Zaouai, S., Tafraoui, A., Makani, A., & Benmerioul, F. (2020). Hardened and transfer properties of self-compacting concretes containing pre-coated rubber aggregates with crushed dune sand. Journal of Rubber Research, 23(1), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42464-019-00030-x

Zaoiai, S., Makani, A., Tafraoui, A., & Benmerioul, F. (2016). Optimization and mechanical characterization of self-compacting concrete incorporating rubber aggregates. https://www.sid.ir/en/VEWSSID/J_pdf/103820160608.pdf.