PROPERTIES OF A LOW COST CONCRETE FORMULATED WITH A DESERT DUNE SAND AND CALCAREOUS FILLER

Dune sand exists in large quantities in a lot of countries. For instance sixty percent of Algerian territory is covered by this type of sand. In order to exploit this important deposit to achieve a low cost concrete, an experimental investigation was carried out using the same amount of cement as in ordinary concrete. The objective was to replace the alluvial or pit sand and also the coarse aggregate having an excessive cost by this locally available material. It has been found that the dune sand can be used successfully to constitute a skeleton of a concrete when a judicious choice is made on its composition. An ultimate compressive strength of 15–20 MPa can be obtained. A good bonding with steel has been noted through the pull out test. The behaviour in flexure, studied on a true prototype reinforced dune sandcrete beam, was in general found to be the same as in the ordinary concrete. Two achievements can be made using this special sandcrete: i) secondary elements of buildings with a good surface appearance and architectonic effects; ii) structural elements for buildings slightly prompted which can be those of modern housing with a few or no storeys.

• INTRODUCTION

• CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONSTITUENT MATERIALS

• FORMULATION OF THE DUNE SANDCRETE

• BEHAVIOUR OF THE HARDENED ELABORATED SANDCRETE

• CONCLUSIONS

• REFERENCES