Mechanical, hydration, and durability modifications provided to mortar made with crushed sand and blended cements

Abstract

This work aims to evaluate the characteristics of crushed sand (CS), resulting from limestone quarries, when it replaces natural sand (NS) in mortar, and to identify its performances with three types of cement and three W/C ratio. It is concluded that CS has a great effect on mortar properties; it accelerates the hydration of cement grains leading to a shorter setting time, increases the flexural and compressive strengths, generates more hydration heat, and improves the mortar durability. The properties of CS mortar can be predicted as simple relationships of those of NS with an acceptable correlation coefficient.

Keywords:

• cement
• crushed sand
• mortar
• compressive strength
• durability
• hydration heat

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by University of Chlef; University of Blida.