Influence of aggregate type on strength and abrasion resistance properties of concrete

This paper investigated the influence of aggregate type on the strength characteristics and abrasion resistance of high strength silica fume concrete. Five different aggregate types (gabbro, basalt, quartzite, limestone and sandstone) were used to produce concrete containing silica fume. Silica fume replacement ratio with cement was 15% on a mass basis. Water-binder ratio was 0.35. The amount of hyper plasticizer was 4% of the binder content by mass. Gabbro concrete showed the highest compressive and flexural tensile strength and abrasion resistance, while sandstone showed the lowest compressive and flexural tensile strength and abrasion resistance. High abrasion resistant aggregate produced a concrete with high abrasion resistance. Three-month compressive strengths of concretes made with basalt, limestone and sandstone were found to be equivalent to the uniaxial compressive strengths of their aggregate rocks. However, the concretes made with quartzite and gabbro aggregate showed lower compressive strength than the uniaxial compressive strength of their aggregate rocks. The results of the current investigation show how aggregate strength limits the compressive and flexural tensile strengths of a concrete, how transition zone strength limits the compressive strength of concrete, and how aggregate types influence abrasion resistance of concrete.