EFFECT OF WASTE CERAMIC TILE AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF COARSE AGGREGATE ON THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND DURABILITY OF CONCRETE

This experiment studies the effect of waste ceramic tile aggregate as partial replacement of conventional coarse aggregate on the compressive strength and durability of concrete, in an attempt to determine the possibility of utilizing waste ceramic tile aggregate (WCTA) as partial replacement for conventional granite in concrete production. For the experiment, a M25 grade concrete with a water/cement ratio of 0.5 was prepared using granite substituted with WCTA at a replacement percentage of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%. Tests such as sieve analysis and aggregate impact value was performed on the various aggregates used in the study to determine their suitability. Concrete cubes of size 100mm×100mm×100mm were casted and tested for compressive strength after a curing period of 7 and 28 days. Water absorption test was also performed on the hardened concrete mixes to determine their durability. From the experimental results, it is found that the 7th day compressive strength of the concrete mixes are 21.32N/mm², 25.37N/mm², 23.54N/mm², 24.20N/mm², 22.21N/mm² and 20.47N/mm², while 28th day compressive strength is found to be 29.66N/mm², 29.80N/mm², 31.94N/mm², 33.59N/mm², 29.65N/mm² and 27.80N/mm², for 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% substitution respectively. Also the water absorption of the concrete samples is observed to be 2.36%, 2.47%, 2.21%, 1.64%, 1.98% and 2.14% for 0%, 10% ,20% ,30%, 40% and 50% respectively. The result reveals that the use of WCTA as partial replacement of coarse aggregate in concrete leads to the enhancement of the compressive strength of concrete, as long it doesn't exceed 30% replacement. Also the addition of WCTA leads to an increase in the water absorption of the concrete for 10% substitution with WCTA, while it leads to a decrease in water absorption for 20- 50% substitution with WCTA, with 30% having the least water absorption. Therefore it is recommended to limit the replacement of granite with WCTA to a maximum of 40%, while for optimal strength and durability of structural concrete, replacement of granite with WCTA should be kept at 30%.