Durability and microstructural characteristics of self-compacting concrete incorporating M-sand

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is characterized by increased fluidity and enhanced cohesion, leading to its growing prominence within the construction sector. Additive materials such as alccofine and silica fume can enhance the properties of SCC while concurrently mitigating the ecological footprint linked to cement manufacturing. Manufactured sand, also known as M-sand, is finely crushed aggregate sourced from rocks or quarry stones, providing a sustainable substitute for natural river sand in construction. The primary emphasis of this study revolves around evaluating the enduring compressive strength and durability attributes of SCC, wherein M-sand is employed to replace river sand to varying percentages of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. Durability assessments encompass evaluations at 28, 56, 90, 180, and 365 days for water absorption, Rapid Chloride Penetration Test (RCPT), sorptivity, and Volume of Permeable Voids (VPV), all compared against the benchmarks of control concrete. Microstructural characterization studies entail the utilization of techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscope imagery (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). From the results it is observed that M-sand replacement in SCC enhanced durability of the concrete.