Comparative Analysis Based on Flowability, and Electric Resistivity of Sand Aggregates Used in Mortar Plastic Mix Design

Abstract

Different sand quarries used to build construction in Morelia, México were analyzed, the optimum mortar configuration was obtained based in the analysis of sand aggregates. Different mixes mortar configuration with Portland cement, masonry mortar, lime, sand, and water, were elaborated and characterized. Two different configurations were proposed, one with the addition of 1/4 of lime and the second with 1/2 of mortar masonry in relation to cement ratio. 3 different quarries were studied, and the proportion of sand were from 2.25 to 4. All the samples were analyzed by flowability and wet electrical characterization. The flowability of all different mix configuration pastes was studied to comprehend the sand-water relation of the mortar mix and to observe the different water requirements in function of the sands proportion and quarry origin. The results shows that the sand proportion 2.25 and 3.25 in configuration 1 (1/4 lime) had 123 and 124 % respectively, the highest values. The flowability of sand proportion in configuration 2 (1/2 masonry mortar) were closed and above 100%. The mortar samples were also characterized by the electric resistivity test to analyze the porosity of the mortar in relation to the sand aggregate. All the sand proportion of configuration 1 were under the minimum limit, the 2.5 sand proportion were the closest with 9.51 kΩ-cm. With the configuration 2, 3.5 sand proportion at 7 days from bank J show the highest value 15.48 kΩ-cm.