A Study of Compressive Strength of Concrete Using Recycled Lightweight Brick to Fully Replace Sand

Abstract

This research studied on compressive strength of concrete using recycled lightweight brick to fully replace sand in order to investigate the possibility of usage of recycled lightweight brick for manufacturing concrete. Both concrete samples were prepared at water to cement ratios (W/C) of 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60 with slump in the range of 5 to 10 cm. The compressive strength of concrete samples was measured at 7, 14, and 28 days. The results revealed that strength reduction of concrete using recycled lightweight brick is mainly dependent upon W/C ratio, regardless of curing time. Use of recycled lightweight brick in concretes affected the reduction of compressive strength more than the increase of W/C ratio. At 28 days, the compressive strength of concrete using recycled lightweight brick with W/C ratios of 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60 decreased from the compressive strength of concrete using river sand with the same W/C ratio about 55, 62, and 80%, respectively or having the compressive strength of 151, 120, and 60 ksc, respectively. Use of recycled lightweight brick as fine aggregate in concrete should consider the quantity of recycled lightweight brick and the W/C ratio in order to obtain the required compressive strength and be suitable for the application.