Comparative Analysis of Concrete Properties with Varying Percentages of Stone Dust Replacement of Sand in Dhanbad District

Comparative Analysis of Concrete Properties with Varying Percentages of Stone Dust Replacement of Sand in Dhanbad District

Harsh Raj

B. Tech (NIT Warangal, Telangana)

Abstract : The increasing scarcity of natural river sand and environmental concerns related to excessive sand mining have created serious challenges for the construction industry in Jharkhand. At the same time, large quantities of stone dust are generated as a by-product from stone crushing plants in Dhanbad district. This material is often disposed of as waste, leading to environmental issues. Therefore, utilizing stone dust as an alternative fine aggregate in concrete may provide both economic and environmental benefits. The present study aims to investigate the effects of partially replacing natural sand with stone dust on the properties of concrete. Different replacement levels such as 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% will be considered to evaluate changes in workability and mechanical performance. Standard laboratory tests will be conducted to determine compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength of concrete specimens. The comparative analysis will help identify the optimum percentage of stone dust that can be used without compromising structural performance. The outcome of this research is expected to support sustainable construction practices by encouraging the utilization of locally available stone dust, reducing dependence on natural sand, and minimizing environmental impact in the Dhanbad region.

INTRODUCTION :

Concrete plays a fundamental role in modern infrastructure and is widely used in the construction of buildings, highways, bridges, and other engineering structures. Fine aggregate is an essential component of concrete, and it is traditionally sourced from river sand. In Jharkhand, growing urban development and infrastructure expansion have increased the demand for construction materials. Continuous and uncontrolled extraction of river sand has caused environmental imbalance, regulatory restrictions, and increased material costs, posing challenges for the construction industry. In industrial districts such as Dhanbad district, several stone crushing plants operate to supply aggregates for construction purposes. These plants produce a substantial amount of stone dust as a secondary product. Much of this stone dust is left unused, leading to environmental concerns such as air pollution and land degradation. Considering its fine grading and easy availability, stone dust has the potential to serve as a replacement for natural sand in concrete. Adopting stone dust as a partial substitute for fine aggregate could reduce dependency on river sand, decrease environmental impact, and support cost-effective construction in the region. However, it is necessary to examine how different proportions of stone dust influence the strength, workability, and durability of concrete before recommending its widespread application. This study therefore investigates the behavior of concrete with varying percentages of stone dust replacing natural sand, with special reference to the conditions prevailing in Jharkhand, particularly Dhanbad district. The objective is to determine an appropriate replacement level that maintains structural performance while encouraging sustainable construction practices.

Keywords: Stone dust, fine aggregate replacement, compressive strength, durability of concrete.

AIM :

To evaluate the effect of partial replacement of natural sand with stone dust on the strength and performance of concrete and to determine the optimum replacement percentage suitable for construction practices in Dhanbad district.

NEED OF STUDY :

In Jharkhand, rapid infrastructure development and urban expansion have significantly increased the demand for construction materials, particularly river sand. Continuous extraction of sand from riverbeds has resulted in environmental degradation, ecological imbalance, and strict governmental regulations on sand mining. These restrictions often create shortages and price fluctuations, directly affecting construction activities in the state. At the same time, districts such as Dhanbad district, known for mining and stone crushing operations, generate large quantities of stone dust as a by-product. This material is generally treated as waste and disposed of near crushing units, leading to land pollution and dust-related environmental problems. Despite its fine particle characteristics, stone dust remains underutilized in mainstream construction. Considering the local availability of stone dust and the shortage of natural sand, there is a strong need to evaluate its suitability as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in concrete. A

systematic investigation is essential to determine whether stone dust can provide adequate strength and durability while supporting sustainable and cost-effective construction practices in Jharkhand. This study is therefore necessary to address regional material challenges and promote efficient resource utilization.

METHODOLOGY :

The investigation follows a controlled laboratory-based experimental program to examine the performance of concrete incorporating stone dust as a partial replacement for natural sand. Ordinary Portland Cement, coarse aggregate, and river sand are procured from local suppliers, while stone dust is collected from operational stone crushing units in Dhanbad district. Preliminary tests determine essential physical properties of the materials, including particle size distribution, specific gravity, and fineness, to confirm their suitability for concrete production. A suitable concrete grade is selected, and mix proportions are designed according to standard mix design procedures. The fine aggregate component is replaced with stone dust in varying proportions such as 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% by weight. Each batch of concrete is mixed under uniform conditions to ensure consistency and homogeneity. Fresh concrete is placed into standard moulds and compacted properly to minimize air voids. The specimens undergo curing under controlled conditions for 7 and 28 days. After curing, the specimens undergo mechanical testing to assess compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength. Workability of the fresh concrete is evaluated through standard slump testing. The results obtained from different replacement levels are analyzed and compared to identify trends and determine the optimum proportion of stone dust suitable for construction practices in Jharkhand.

OBSERVATION :

The experimental results indicate variations in workability and strength properties with increasing percentage of stone dust replacement.

Table 1 : Experimental Readings for Mechanical and Workability Properties of Concrete with Varying Percentages of Stone Dust Replacement

RESULT :

The experimental results presented in Table 1 demonstrate a clear influence of stone dust replacement on the workability and strength characteristics of concrete. A gradual reduction in slump value occurs as the percentage of stone dust increases from 0% to 100%. The control mix records a slump of 75 mm, whereas the mix with 100% replacement shows a reduced slump of 48 mm. This trend indicates that higher stone dust content decreases workability due to increased fines and surface area. The compressive strength results show improvement up to 50% replacement of natural sand. At 7 days, strength increases from 18.6 MPa for the control mix to 22.1 MPa at 50% replacement. A similar pattern appears at 28 days, where compressive strength rises from 27.5 MPa (control mix) to a maximum value of 31.2 MPa at 50% replacement. Beyond this level, a slight reduction in strength is observed, although values remain comparable to conventional concrete. Split tensile and flexural strength results follow a similar trend. The highest tensile strength of 3.18 MPa and flexural strength of 4.35 MPa are recorded at 50% replacement. Higher replacement levels show marginal decreases, likely due to excessive fine content affecting the concrete matrix. Overall, the results indicate that partial replacement of natural sand with stone dust enhances concrete performance up to an optimum level of approximately 50%. Beyond

this proportion, mechanical properties show a slight decline, although performance remains within acceptable limits for structural applications.

CONCLUSIONS :

Based on the experimental results presented in Table 1, stone dust proves to be a suitable partial replacement for natural sand in concrete. The study indicates that workability decreases progressively with increasing stone dust content due to the presence of finer particles. However, the reduction remains within manageable limits for practical construction applications. Compressive strength results show noticeable improvement up to 50% replacement of natural sand. The maximum 28-day compressive strength of 31.2 MPa is achieved at 50% stone dust replacement, compared to 27.5 MPa for conventional concrete. Similar improvement trends appear in split tensile and flexural strength tests, where optimum performance also occurs at 50% replacement. Beyond this percentage, strength values show a slight decline, though they remain comparable to the control mix. The findings suggest that replacing natural sand with stone dust up to an optimum level of approximately 50% enhances the mechanical performance of concrete while promoting effective utilization of locally available materials. Therefore, stone dust can serve as a viable and sustainable alternative to river sand for construction activities, particularly in regions where stone dust is readily available, such as Dhanbad district.

DURATION :

Table 2 : Proposed duration of study

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT :

The authors sincerely acknowledge RTBT Infrastructure Developer Pvt. Ltd., Ranchi (www.rtbtltd.com) for their valuable technical guidance and support during the experimental investigation on the partial replacement of natural sand with stone dust in concrete. The authors also express their gratitude to the stone crushing units in Dhanbad district for providing the required stone dust material and extending cooperation throughout the study.

REFERENCES :

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