The influence of aggregate on the elastic modulus of concrete

Abstract: Concrete is a heterogeneous material and as a result, there are numerous factors that contribute to its resulting modulus of elasticity (E). One of the major factors is said to be the type of aggregate. This study assesses the influence of aggregate type on concrete E, through the use of 36 mixes each containing one of four commonly used South African aggregates namely, granite, quartzite, andesite and dolomite. The E for each concrete mix was determined for 7, 28 and 56 day concrete and their results were analyzed according to the E of the aggregate type contained. The E values of the concretes were found to decrease with a decrease in the E of the included aggregate, in the order dolomite, quartzite, andesite and granite. The aggregate type significantly influences the E of concrete. In fact, the specific influence of an aggregate on concrete E can be mainly attributed to the E of the included aggregate