Utilization of olivine sand as partial replacement of fine aggregate in concrete: Mechanical strength and microstructural analysis perspective Available to Purchase

The usage of alternatives by replacing conventional materials is a common trend in the field of construction. The utilization of naturally available and waste by-products is a progressive way of creating an eco-friendly environment. Several waste products have already been used as a replacement to various conventional practices. In this study, fine aggregate replacement of concrete by various proportions of olivine sand was done to study the behavior of concrete. Generally river sand and M-sand are used as fine aggregates in concrete. Olivine sand is a naturally occurring mineral, which is readily available or can be made by crushing dunite rocks. Carbon sequestration is the act of capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and storing it. Olivine sand is significant for its carbon absorbing properties and can withstand high temperatures. The usage of olivine sand in concrete paves a way for the development of a newer concrete with high thermal resistance capacities and carbon absorption properties. The carbon absorption of concrete will not only help in minimizing the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels but also boosts the strength of concrete. In this project, M-sand is used as the primary fine aggregate and 12 mm coarse aggregates were used. OPC 53 grade of cement is used as the binding material. The strength properties of the concrete and RC slabs were studied and the results indicate that the concrete with 30% of fine aggregate as olivine sand showed better performance when compared to other replacement proportions.