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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 3.8 billion tons per year and is
increases in every year. 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 fulfil the increase in demand for Portland
cement.
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 occurs 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 (SiO2) that can react with Ca(OH)2 generated from the 80 percent of
cement to produce products having cementious 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 amount, fineness
mineralogical composition and type of cement.
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Replacement of Clinker with Dune Sand
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.
Figure 1.1 shows Barchan sand dune to the east of El- Bagawat cemetery.
Fig. 1.1 Barchan sand dune to the east of El- Bagawat cemetery.
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Replacement of Clinker with Dune Sand
2. CONCRETE
A composite material that consists essentially of a binding medium, such as a mixture
of Portland cement and water, which contains fragments of aggregate, usually a
combination of fine and coarse aggregate. The tensile strength of concrete is very less
than that of its compressive strength. Because of that it is typically reinforced with
steel bars, in which case it is known as reinforced concrete.
2.1. CEMENT
There are many different kinds of cements. In concrete, the most commonly used is
Portland cement, a hydraulic cement which sets and hardens by chemical reaction
with water and is capable of doing so under water.Modern Portland cement was
invented in 1824 by Joseph Aspdin of Leeds, England. The name derives from its
resemblance of the natural building stone quarried in Portland, England.The raw
ingredients of Portland cement are iron ore, lime, alumina and silica. These are
ground up and fired in a kiln to produce a clinker. Clinker is stored at the construction
site until it is required for grinding into cement. Gypsum and supplementary
cementitious material added to get fine cement powder. Gypsum is added to regulate
the setting time of cement.
2.1.1 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
calcincing 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 1500 0C 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. Addition of DSP
reduce the requirement of clinker in cement.
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Replacement of Clinker with Dune Sand
Element SiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3 CaO MgO SO3 K2O Cl- PAF
Percentage
(%) 74.61 1.35 0.86 17.3 0.29 0.04 0.47 0.005 5.04
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Replacement of Clinker with Dune Sand
4. CASE STUDY
The experimental work has done for checking the possibility of use of dune sand
powder additions as a partial substitution to Portland cement. These additions come
from natural sources or by products of other industries. The addition increases
binding activity of the cement and it depends on amount, fineness, mineralogical
compositon and the type of cement also. The compactness of the cement paste can be
improved by the formation of calcium silicate hydrates.
4.1. EXPERIMENT
For studying the effect of different percentages of dune sand powder. Dune sand
powder of fineness F1=3000cm2/g and F2=4000cm2/g and the effect of water binder
ratio w/b= 0.4,0.3 and 0.25 on the compressive strength of cement paste. The mass
percentages (5%,10%,15%,20%) were taken for the addition to ordinary Portland
cement. Cubes of size 20 mmx20 mm x20 mm prepared with pure cement paste. The
cement pastes were prepared in a mixer standard EN 196-1 by following procedure
described by European Standard EN 196-3. The hardening was under natural
conditions, the specimens are subjected to water curing. It is useful in identifying
minerals. Spectrum of X diffraction reflects internal structure and nature of minerals.
4.2. MATERIALS
The materials used are dune sand, Portland cement and water. The crushing of dune
sand and clinker are carried out using a conventional ball crusher.
4.2.1. Dune Sand
Addition of dune sand powder depends on its local availability at acceptable cost and
silica content .Dune sand in the region of Biskra. Apparent density is 1300kg/m3 and
specific density is 2770kg/m3. Figure 4.1 shows Grading curve of sand and gravel.
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Replacement of Clinker with Dune Sand
4.2.2. Gravel
Gravel is of crushed stone fraction in the region Ain-Touta (Batna).
Apparent density = 1420 kg/m3
Specific density = 2610 kg/m3
4.2.3. Portland Cement
The cement used is OPC. It consist of 95% clinker and 5% gypsum, for regulationof the
setting time. Apparent density is 1120 kg/m3 and specific density is 3050 kg/m3.
4.2.3.1. Chemical and Mineralogical nature
The chemical and mineralogical composition of clinker is shown below in the table 4.1 and
4.2
Percentage
(%) 22 5.02 2.94 64.36 2.07 0.73 1.94 0.30 0.64
Element C3 S C2 S C3 A C4AF
Percentage
(%) 51.28 24.68 8.33 8.94
4.2.3. Water
The water is drinking water that contains little sulphate and having a temperature of 20±100
C. Its quality conforms to the requirements of standard NFP 18-404.
Fig. 4.3 Variation in compressive strength as a function of time and w/b ratio (F1=3000
cm2/g)
Fig. 4.4 Variation in compressive strength as a function of time and w/b ratio (F1=4000
cm2/g)
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 and
more effective. Increasing the fineness of 3000 cm2/g to 4000 cm2/g the compressive
strengths at all ages were improved by 12%. The addition of 20% DSP with fineness of 4000
cm2/g in OPC gives a new variety of cement with a compressive strength comparable to
OPC. Figure 4.5 shows the Variation in compressive strength at 28 days of cement pastes
with 20% DSP as a function of fineness and w/b ratio. Figure 4.6 shows the Effect of DSP on
the compressive strength( Fineness= 4000 cm2/g , w/b=0.25).
Fig. 4.5 Variation in compressive strength at 28 days of cement pastes with 20% DSP as a
function of fineness and w/b ratio.
Fig. 4.6 Effect of DSP on the compressive strength( Fineness= 4000 cm2/g , w/b=0.25)
in Figure 4.4.3.1. The porosity of the material is the first indicator of durability, because
porosity is the seat of external aggression, the material is more porous, more penetration of
agents is facilitated, and therefore its durability is limited. Figure 4.8 shows Porosity of
concrete as a function of time .
5. CONCLUSION
The use of the dune sand powder as a substitute of the clinker in Portland cement
reduces carbon dioxide emissions. It improves the compressive strength. The contribution of
addition of DSP to cement binding activity results from three effects. 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 decreases 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 has partial pozzolanic reactivity.
The results proved that up to 20% DSP as Portland cement, replacement could be used with a
fineness of 4000cm2/g without affecting adversely the compressive strength. Compressive
strength at early age develop due to the acceleration of cement hydration combined with the
physical effect. The XRD analysis revealed the role of pozzolanic DSP. The small content of
portlandite detected in the cement pastes in the presence of the DSP, reflects the partial
pozzolanic reaction, which contributes to increased strength and improves compacting cement
pastes by three effects: physical, physical-chemical and chemical. The compressive strengths
at earty-age develop due to the acceleration of cement hydration, combined with the physical
effect, while those at average and especially long-term develop through the partial pozzolanic
effect, which cause the replacement of lime by the calcium silicate hydrate C-S-H semi-
crystallized of second generation and transformation of large crystals of lime CH into a
product of hydration slightly crystallized Average or long term strength develop through the
partial pozzolanic effect which cause the replacement of lime by calcium silicate hydrate C-S-
H. The use of the dune sand powder improves overall porous structure of concrete and also
contributes to the thickening of the interface (mortar/gravel). Thus, the dune sand powder
change the fracture characteristics (deformability), this allows an increase net in durability of
concrete. So DSP is used as a partial replacement upto 20% and it will reduce the emission of
carbon dioxide.
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age of cement pastes containing dune sand powder, Construction and Building Materials
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