Physico-mechanical behaviour of sandcrete produced with different proportions of sand grain sizes

The physical and mechanical properties of sandcrete produced with various blended proportions of sand grain sizes were investigated. River sand was sieved into three portions with distinct grain sizes. These were: sand containing only grains with diameters less than 1 mm (fine sand), 1-2 mm (medium sand) and 2-4 mm (coarse sand). Seven different combinations of grain sizes were proportioned by weight, with each combination containing 50% fine sand. Five cement/sand mix ratios, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7 and 1:8, were used for moulding 150 × 150 × 150 mm sandcrete cubes. The results revealed that an increased proportion of coarse sand tended to increase the bulk density and compressive strength of sandcrete cubes after 28 days of curing. The grain size combination which gave the optimum compressive strength of sandcrete contained 50% fine sand, 10% medium sand and 40% coarse sand