Effects of the use of beach sand on mixed mortar properties: analysis of granulometric variation

ABSTRACT Several environmental impacts are due to the high consumption of river sand in the construction industry. This study aims to analyze the influence of the use of beach sand in order to use river sand for mortar productions. From the river sand, two variations were made: the first one had 70% of fine fraction (particles <1.18 mm) and 30% of medium fraction (particles <2.36 mm); and the second, 60% fine fraction and 40% average fraction. Portland cement (CP II-Z-RS) and hydrated lime (CHI type) were used as constant and binder ratio (in weight) of 1:3 (binder/aggregate), with variations of 1:1:6 and 1:2:9 (cement, lime and aggregate). The experimental program consisted of the analysis of the aggregates (by means of the size distribution and the bulk density) and the mortars in the fresh and hardened state. In the fresh state, the relation between the water consumption and the consistency and bulk density was determined. In the hardened state, the capillary coefficient, the rate of mass change and the mechanical strength to compression and traction were determined. The results indicated that the beach and river sand presented similar physical behaviour, although the first one has a more uniform particle size distribution and a greater amount of fines, directly reflecting the performance of the mortars.