EFFECT OF VERY FINE PARTICLES ON CONCRETE MADE WITH

DUNE SAND

A SEMINAR REPORT

Submitted by

ARUN AVIRACHAN

In partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the degree

of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

Guided by

Asst. Prof. BETSY PAUL. K

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Toc H INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ERNAKULAM 682 313

OCTOBER 2014
 Toc H INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ARAKKUNNAM, ERNAKULAM-682 313
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the seminar entitled EFFECT OF VERY FINE PARTICLES
ON CONCRETE MADE WITH DUNE SAND is the bonafide work done by
ARUN AVIRACHAN (Reg no:11123013) under our supervision and guidance. This
seminar report is submitted to Toc H Institute of Science & Technology in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY in
CIVIL ENGINEERING.

Guided by: Head of the department:

Asst.Prof. Betsy Paul. K Asso. Prof. Vasudev. R

Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering

TIST TIST

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i
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This seminar work is the product of hard work and experience and it goes a long
way in shaping a person in his respective profession. If words can be considered as token
of acknowledgement and symbols of love, then these words play a vital role in expressing
my gratitude. First of all, Im thankful to God Almighty, for his choicest blessings
for the successful completion of my seminar.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Management, Toc H Institute of Science

and Technology, Arakkunnam for their whole hearted support and for providing with a
greater infrastructure necessary for the completion of my seminar. I also like to express
my sincere thanks to Prof. (Dr.) D Vincent H Wilson, (Principal , TIST) and Prof.
(Dr.) Rajeev Kumar P (M Tech Coordinator, CE) for their kind support throughout the
completion of this venture.

With a greater respect, I express my sincere thanks to Asso. Prof. Vasudev. R

(HOD,CE), for all the proper guidance and encouragement that helped me to complete
this seminar.

I express my sincere gratitude to my seminar guide Asst. Prof. Betsy Paul. K,

Department of Civil Engineering, TIST, for her valuable guidance and support.

Last but not the least; Im grateful to all my friends and parents for their valuable
motivation and support.

ARUN AVIRACHAN

S7, CE

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 ABSTRACT

Dune sand powder(DSP) can be used as partial replacement for clinker used for the
production of cement. 5%,10%,15%,20% replacement of clinker by DSP is commonly
adopted. The incorporation of dune sand powder as a substitute to Portland cement yields a
new variety of cement compound with physical and mechanical properties superior to those
of Portland cement. Partially replaced by DSP has an excellent property of reducing carbon
dioxide( CO2) emission. The 14 day, the compressive strength with 5, 10 and 15% DSP is
superior to Portland cement, with an optimum strength for a percentage of the 5% to 10%
DSP. DSP improve compressive strength and consistency of the mixture.

Compressive strength of all hardened cement paste at any age,decreased with the
increase of w/c ratio. After 28 days, the compressive strength at 5,10 and 15% of DSP is
found to be superior to the Portland cement with an optimum strength for 5% to 10%
irrespective of the w/c ratio and fineness of the DSP.

Keywords: Dune Sand,Principal effects,Partial replacement,Optimum Strength.

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 CONTENTS

Title Page No.

CERTIFICATE i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii

ABSTRACT iii

LIST OF FIGURES vi

LIST OF TABLES vii

LIST OF ABBREVIAIONS viii

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. CLINKER 3

3. HYDRATION CHEMISTRY OF CEMENT 3

4. CHARACTERISTIC OF MATERIALS 3

4.1. DUNE SAND POWDER 4

4.1.1 Chemical Analysis 4

4.1.2 Mineralogical Nature 4

4.2. PORTLAND CEMENT 5

4.2.1 Chemical & Mineralogical Analysis 5

4.3. WATER 6
4.4. MIX PROPORTIONS 6
5. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH 6

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6. CONSISTENCY AND SETTING TIME 10
7. CONCLUSION 11
REFERENCES 12

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No. Description Page No.

1.1. Barchan Sand dune to the east of El-Bagaat cemetery 2

4.1. X diffractogram 5

5.1 Variation in Compressive strength as a function of time and w/b

ratio(F1= 3000 cm2/g) 7

5.2 Variation in Compressive strength as a function of time and w/b

ratio(F2= 4000 cm2/g) 8

5.3 Variation in Compressive Strength at 28 days of cement pastes with

20% DSP as a function and w/b ratio. 9

5.4 Effect of DSP on the Compressive strength 9

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table No. Description Page No.

4.1 Chemical analysis of dune sand powder 4
4.2 Chemical composition of clinker(%) 5
4.3 Mineralogical Composition of clinker(%) 6
4.4 Mixtures Proportions 6
6.1 Consistency and Setting time of mixtures 10

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 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation Expansion

DSP Dune Sand Powder

OPC Ordinary Portland Cement

ASTM American Society for Testing & Materials

F Fineness

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1.INTRODUCTION

Portland cement is one of the most important materials in the construction industry
because of its multiple applications and mechanical and physical properties. The current
production rate for Portland cement is about two billion tons per year and is predicted to
increase to about 3.5 billion tons per year by 2015.

A problem with the use of Portland cement is that its production is highly energy
intensive and cause significant environmental impact. For example, the production of one
ton of Portland cement produces about one ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Therefore, there is a pressing need for developing green building materials to fulfill the
increase in demand for Portland cement. Therefore dune sand powder considered as partial
replacement material in cement.

The Dunes are considered as an important natural source and making them a major
component in concrete and mortar mixes. A Dune is a hill of sand built by either wind or
water flow. It occur in different forms and sizes. The Dune sand is material of great
availability found in deserts or near lakes and oceans. It is common in Algeria,Egypt,Western
desert,Saudi Arabia etc. The sand is rich in silicon dioxide (SiO2), but in the less reactive
form. The milled or ground dune sand has a particle size of about 45 microns or less and is
used as a partial replacement of up to 20 percent of the cement to provide concrete with
comparable strength to plain concrete. The 20 percent replacement of cement by milled dune
sand was considered to provide a sufficient amount of silica (SiO 2) that can react with
Ca(OH)2 generated from the 80 percent of cement to produce products having cementitious
properties. DSP consist of SiO2 quartz well crystallized type low quartz.

The effect of addition of the Dune Sand Powder(DSP) on development of

compressive strength and hydration of cement pastes was achieved as a function of
water/binder ratio,percentage and fineness of DSP.

A cheaper alternative for cement made of local natural resources has become a big
concern to compensate the deficit in the manufacture of cement. In 1970, major researches
were carried out on the use of materials that can be added to cement as a partial substitution
to Portland cement. These addition comes from the natural resources or other industrial by
product. The binding activity of the new obtained material depend on their

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amount,fineness,mineralogical composition and type of cement. The contribution of addition
of dune sand powder on the cement binding activity results primarily from three effects.They
are granular effect, physico-chemical effect and chemical effect.

Granular effect relates to mineral addition in the granular structure of cementing

material in a fresh state. It becomes positive and leads either to improve the consistency of
fresh mixture maintain a constant water content or decrease the water content for a given
consistency by improving the compactness of the mixture and the mechanical performance of
hardened material. It related to the changes induced by the presence of the fine particles in
the solid skeleton of the mixture.

Physico-chemical effect relates to all the modification generated by the multiple

interaction between the mineral addition particles on the hydration process of cement,and on
structuring the hydrated products. Physico-chemical effect of the mineral additions acts
primarily on the evolution of the mechanical strengths at early age and on the physical and
microstructural properties of hardened cementing materials.

Chemical effect relates to pozzolanic or hydraulic properties,to react with water and
the anhydrous or hydrated components of cement to form new mineral phases which can
contribute to the mechanical strength and hydrated products of cement. The analysis by X-ray
diffraction highlighted the role of pozzolanic dune sand powder.

DSP can be used for replacement of clinker present in the cement production.
5%,10%,15%,20% replacement of clinker by DSP is commonly adopted.

Fig.1.1 : Barchan sand dune to the east of El-Bagawat cemetery.

(Source: Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering,Volume 7, No.3,2013 )

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2. CLINKER

The main raw material for the production of cement is clinker. Clinker is an artificial
rock made by heating limestone and other raw materials in specific quantities to a very high
temperature in a specially made kiln. Portland cement is hydraulic cement made by finely
pulverizing the clinker produced by calcining to incipient fusion a mixture of argillaceous
and calcareous materials. It is the fine grey powder that is the most important ingredient of
concrete. Hence the name cement concrete. A cement kiln,a huge inclined rotating furnace is
a continuous stream process vessel in which the feed and fuel are held in dynamic balance.
As the raw materials combine toward the 15000C flame,the chemical reaction transforms
them into clinker. Clinker production require high temperatures,which are generated by the
combustion of coal. Clinker is stored at the construction site until it is required for grinding
into cement. It is ground with gypsum and supplementary cementitious materials to form fine
cement powder. Gypsum is added to regulate the setting time. Addition of DSP reduce the
requirement of clinker in cement.

Fineness is the measure of the size of the cement particles.Fineness is also expressed
in specific surface,which is a measure of degree of grinding. Specific surface should be more
than 2250 cm2/gm.

3. HYDRATION CHEMISTRY OF CEMENT

The reaction of cement when mixed with water is called hydration. Both tricalcium
silicate and dicalcium silicate make up nearly 75% of cement. The hydration of these
compounds is responsible for the setting and hardening of cement. When water is added to
cement, tricalcium aluminate get hydrated first. Which is responsible for early setting of
cement. It generates considerable amount of heat. It cannot contribute strength.

Tricalcium Silicate hydrates, imparts initial strength to the cement. Dicalcium Silicate
gets hydrated next which is responsible for the development of strength in later stages.

4. CHARACTERISTIC OF MATERIALS

Very fine particles of dune sand is used for the replacement . Crushing of dune sand
and clinker is carried out using a ball crusher.DSP, Portland cement, Water are the materials.

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4.1 DUNE SAND POWDER

Dune sand is great available in desert regions. The addition relative to another is
generally based on the local availability at reasonable costs,focused on high silica content.
From the case study,it is observe that apparent density is 1300 Kg/m3 and specific density is
2770 Kg/m3.

4.1.1 Chemical analysis

From the chemical analysis,the important observation to note is the presence of a high
percentage of silica SiO2 , therefore the dune sand is siliceous sand.

Table 4.1 : Chemical analysis of dune sand powder(%)

SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO SO3 K2O Cl LOl

74.61 1.35 0.86 17.3 0.29 0.04 0.47 0.005 5.04

(Source : Construction and Building Materials 25 (2011), S.Guettala ,B. Mezghiche.)

4.1.2 Mineralogical nature

DSP shows a crystalline structure siliceous(low quartz). The crystalline silica shows a
regular three-dimensional structure. In which an oxygen atom is at the centre and three sides
occupied each of by a silicon atom forming a tetrahedron structure. If the temperature
reaches over 8700C,the atomic structure of DSP changes. Mineralogical nature is observed by
using X diffractogram. Fig 4.1 shows the mineralogical nature of dune sand powder.

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 Fig. 4.1: X diffractogram(DSP)

(Source : Construction and Building Materials 25 (2011), S.Guettala ,B. Mezghiche.)

4.2 PORTLAND CEMENT

The cement used is an OPC. It consist of 95% clinker and 5% gypsum,for regulation
of the setting time. Apparent density is 1120 kg/m3 and specific density is 3050 kg/m3.

4.2.1 Chemical and Mineralogical analysis

The chemical and mineralogical composition of clinker is shown below in the table
4.2 and 4.3.

Table 4.2 : Chemical composition of clinker(%)

SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO SO3 Free IR LOl

Cao

22 5.02 2.94 64.36 2.07 1.94 0.30 0.73 0.64

(Source: Construction and Building Materials 25 (2011), S.Guettala ,B. Mezghiche.)

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 Table 4.3: Mineralogical composition of clinker(%)

C3S C2S C3A C4AF

51.28 24.68 8.33 8.94

(Source: Construction and Building Materials 25 (2011), S.Guettala ,B. Mezghiche.)

4.3 WATER

The water is drinking water,which contains little sulphate and having temperature of
2010 C

4.4 MIX PROPORTIONS

Table 4.4: Mixtures proportions.

Cement type Clinker Gypsum DSP

OPC Fineness 3200
cm2/g 95 5 0
95% OPC + 5%
DSP 90 5 5
90% OPC +10%
DSP 85 5 10
85% OPC+15%
DSP 80 5 15
80% OPC +20%
DSP 75 5 20

(Source: Construction and Building Materials 25 (2011), S.Guettala ,B. Mezghiche.)

5. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

During the first seven days,the compressive strength is low. Whereas the compressive
strengths increases significantly in some period. It is due to the kinetics of the reaction of
cement hydration and reaction of dune sand powder with portlandite as a function of time.

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 The rate of development of compressive strength of the OPC alone of 28 and 90 days
compared to 7 days is 56% and 68%. Contribution of addition of DSP to the cement binding
activity resulted primarily from three effects. They are physical,physico-chemical and
chemical. These effects acts simultaneously on the compressive strength of cement pastes.
Physical effect is an improvement of the compressive strengths by a thickening of the cement
pastes. Physico-chemical effect is a physical process which produces a chemical activation of
cement hydration and depends on the content and fineness of the DSP,which acts on the
evolution on the compressive strengths at early age. The presence of DSP accelerates the
reaction of cement hydration. It is also combined with physical effect and hydration leads to
better short term compressive strengths. Chemical effect in which lime provided in Portland
cement are consumed by the pozzolanic reaction,caused by the addition of DSP to cement.
Cement is the expensive ingredient in the composition of the concrete. Therefore reducing the
cement content by maintaining a given strength for a given slump.It is also makes the cement
to continue its development of compressive strength even after the 28 days period.

Compressive strength of all hardened cement paste at any age decreases with the
increase in w/b ratio.The w/b ratio influences the porosity of the cement paste hydrated.
Therefore cement with low w/b ratio is adopted. Since cement pastes with low w/b ratio
develops compressive strength quickly by a high concentration in C-S-H.

Fig. 5.1 : Variation in compressive strength as a function of time and w/b ratio (F1=3000
cm2/g)

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 Fig. 5.2 : Variation in compressive strength as a function of time and w/b
ratio(fineness=4000 cm2/g)

(Source: Construction and Building Material 25(2011)

The DSP can change the structure of pores,which means that it reduce the number of
large pores and increase the small pores. The role of fine particles in DSP is very important

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and more effective. Increasing the fineness of 3000 cm2/g to 4000 cm2/g ,the compressive
strengths at all ages were improved by 12%. After 28 days,the compressive strength at 5,10
and 15% of DSP is superior to the Portland cement,with an optimum effect for a percentage
of the order of 5% to 10% irrespective of the w/b ratio and fineness of DSP.

Fig. 5.3: Variation in compressive strength at 28 days of cement pastes with 20% DSP
as a function of fineness and w/b ratio.

Fig. 5.4 : Effect of DSP on the compressive strength( Fineness= 4000 cm2/g , w/b=0.25)

( Source :Journal of Construction and Building materials 25(2011) )

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6. CONSISTENCY AND SETTING TIME

Addition of DSP decrease the initial consistency. Because of their superior fineness
than that of OPC cement, the intergranular vacuum reduces. Therefore dune sand powder
plays a role of lubricant. Addition of DSP not change the setting time. The amount of water
necessary to obtain a normal consistency of the cement paste varies from 23%-35%, accrding
to ASTM. DSP fill the intergranular vacuums and decrease the demand for water.

Table 6.1: Consistency and Setting time of mixtures.

Tests(T=270C) Mixture M5 M11 M17 M23

M1

Normal 27 26.7 26.5 26.3 26

consistency(%)

Setting 95 100 105 105 105

time(min)

Setting time 240 229 227 225 225

final(min)

(Source: Journal of Construction and Building Materials 25(2011))

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7. CONCLUSION
The DSP shows a crystalline siliceous structure. The use of the dune sand powder as a
substitute of the clinker in Portland cement is an example of reducing carbon dioxide
emissions. It improve the compressive strength. The more particles are fine and their role is
more effective. Increasing the fineness of 3000 cm2/g to 4000 cm2/g,the compressive strength
at all ages is improved by 12%. Compressive strength of all hardened cement paste at any
age,decreased with the increase of w/b ratio. After 28 days, the compressive strength at 5,10
and 15% of the DSP is superior to the Portland cement with an optimum effect for percentage
of the order 5% to 10% irrespective of the w/b ratio and fineness of the DSP. DSP have
crystalline structure and also it has partial pozzolanic reactivity. Compressive strength at
early age develop due to the acceleration of cement hydration combined with the physical
effect. Average or long term strength develop through the partial pozzolanic effect,which
cause the replacement of lime by calcium silicate hydrate C-S-H.

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REFERENCES :

Guettala S, Mellas.M and Mezghiche.B (2012) , Influence of addition dune sand

powder to cement on the properties physical-mechanical and deformability of
concrete, Asian Journal of Civil Engineering vol.13,no.6,pages 765-781.
Guettala. S, Mezghiche. B (2012), Effect of Addition the Dune Sand Powder on
Development of Compressive Strength and Hydration of Cement Pastes, World
Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology ,Vol:6 ,10-25.
Bouzidi Mezghiche, Salim Guettala (2011) , Compressive strength and hydration
with age of cement pastes containing dune sand powder , Construction and Building
Materials 25(2011) pages 1263-1269.
Abdelouahed Kriker, Allaoua Belferrag, Mohamed Elmouldi Khenfer (2013) ,
Improvement of the compressive strength of mortar in the arid climates by
valorization of dune sand pneumatic waste metal fibers , Construction and Building
Materials 40(2013) pages 847-853.

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