Investigation on Mechanical and Durability Performance of Reinforced Concrete Containing Red Soil as Alternate for M-Sand

Abstract

The river sand is a primary parameter in the concrete structure. This work replaces accessible locally accessible substitution materials like red soil and manufactured sand (M-Sand). In this paper, the mechanical properties and durability of concrete containing red soil and M-Sand have been studied. In this investigation, M30 grade concrete was used, and tests were conducted for two sets of combinations; i.e., red soil as a partial replacement for river sand seems to be 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%, and red soil as a partial replacement for manufactured sand (M-Sand) seems to be 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, and 20%. The compressive strength (7 days, 28 days, 90 days), split tensile strength (28 days), and flexural strength (28 days) have been determined. The combination S4-50% river $\text{sand}+50\%$ red soil and S9-70% M- $\text{Sand}+30\%$ red soil gives more compressive strength than other combinations. Similarly, the combination S3-60% river $\text{sand}+40\%$ red soil and S6-40% M- $\text{Sand}+60\%$ red soil gives more flexural and split tensile strength than other combinations. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, EDAX analysis, and durability tests like alkalinity, sulfate attack, and chloride attack have also been studied.