Suitability of River Sand for Production of Concrete: Focus on Engineering Properties and Cost-Benefit

The utilization of river sand in construction is a widespread practice globally, resulting in a surge in demand for it. This research aims to assess the applicability of river sand in engineering applications and to determine its cost-effectiveness. The American Society of Testing Materials carried out evaluations on sand samples to ascertain their engineering qualities, including silt content, fineness modulus, moisture content, and specific gravity. Concrete cubes with a 1:2:3 mix ratio underwent compressive strength tests at 7, 14, and 28 days. The study analyzed the economic viability of river sand based on the relationship between the cost of producing a single cube and its compressive strength at 28 days. Sugele's sand had the least silt content, measuring 5%, while Didiga's sand had the highest at 17%. The compressive strengths of Didiga and Sugele river sands were 13.01 and 26.489 MPa, respectively, with the former and latter having the lowest and highest compressive strengths. © 2023 School of Science, IHU. All rights reserved.