Experimental Study on Self-Compacting Concrete Containing Granite Powder: Fresh, Mechanical, and Durability Properties

Abstract

The increasing demand for construction-grade aggregates and the growing environmental problems associated with granite processing waste have motivated the present investigation. This study evaluates the viability of using granite powder as a partial replacement for natural fine aggregate in self-compacting concrete incorporating 25% fly ash. Granite powder was used at replacement levels ranging from 0% to 30%, and its effects on fresh properties, mechanical performance, and durability were investigated. Slump flow values were within the SF2 class range 660-750 mm, while V-funnel and L-box results showed satisfactory filling and passing ability. Optimum fresh properties were achieved at 20% replacement of granite powder, due to improved particle packing and filler effects. Mechanical properties improved gradually with increasing granite powder content up to 20% replacement. The maximum compressive strength of 46.9 MPa was recorded at 20% granite powder replacement, along with corresponding improvements in split tensile and flexural strengths. The improved performance is attributed to matrix densification, enhanced aggregate-paste bonding, and a refined pore structure resulting from the microfiller action of granite powder. Replacement levels above 20% led to reduced workability and strength due to excessive fines and increased water demand. The optimum mix containing 20% granite powder showed satisfactory durability, with water absorption of 3.0% and abrasion loss of 2.51%, indicating good resistance to water penetration and surface wear, respectively. Overall, incorporating 20% granite powder provided the best balance of fresh, mechanical, and durability properties. The findings show that granite powder is a viable alternative to river sand in SCC, reducing consumption of natural resources and promoting the utilization of industrial waste.

Introduction

The study investigates the use of granite powder (GP), an industrial waste generated during granite processing, as a partial replacement for natural river sand in M35-grade self-compacting concrete (SCC). Concrete production consumes vast quantities of natural aggregates, while granite processing generates large amounts of waste that create environmental problems such as air pollution, soil contamination, and groundwater pollution. Utilizing granite powder in SCC offers a sustainable solution by reducing the consumption of natural sand and promoting the reuse of industrial waste.

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is particularly suitable for incorporating fine waste materials because it flows and consolidates under its own weight without external vibration. SCC also provides improved structural uniformity and reduced honeycombing. Previous studies have shown that granite powder replacement levels between 15% and 25% generally improve concrete performance, but few investigations have simultaneously considered SCC mix design according to Indian Standards, fly ash incorporation, and durability evaluation within a unified framework.

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of replacing river sand with granite powder at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% while maintaining a constant water–binder ratio (0.38), 25% fly ash replacement of cement, and a fixed superplasticizer dosage. The investigation focuses on fresh properties, mechanical strength, durability, and identifying the optimum granite powder replacement level that satisfies both performance and sustainability requirements.

Materials and Experimental Program

The SCC mixes were prepared using:

• OPC 43-grade cement conforming to IS 8112:2013.
• Zone II natural river sand as fine aggregate.
• Crushed granite as coarse aggregate.
• Class F fly ash replacing 25% of cementitious material.
• Granite powder obtained from local granite processing industries as a partial sand replacement.
• Polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticizer.
• Potable water meeting IS 456:2000 requirements.

Seven SCC mixtures (T1–T7) were produced with granite powder replacement levels ranging from 0% to 30%. Specimens were prepared following IS 10262:2019 and EFNARC guidelines, cast without vibration, and cured in water before testing.

Testing Procedure

The study evaluated:

• Fresh properties using slump flow, T???, V-funnel, and L-box tests according to IS 1199 (Part 6):2018.
• Mechanical properties, including compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths.
• Durability properties, including water absorption and abrasion resistance.

Fresh-State Performance

The fresh concrete results showed that granite powder significantly influenced SCC workability.

• Slump Flow: Flowability improved with increasing granite powder content up to 10–15% replacement, reaching a maximum slump flow of 715 mm at 10% GP. Beyond this level, flowability gradually decreased, with the 30% mix showing inadequate flow due to excessive fines and increased water demand.
• T??? Time: The fastest flow occurred around 10–15% GP, while higher replacement levels increased flow time because of higher viscosity.
• V-Funnel Test: Mixes containing up to 25% GP satisfied SCC viscosity requirements. The 15–20% mixes recorded the shortest flow times, indicating optimum particle packing and reduced internal friction. The 30% GP mix exhibited poor flow characteristics because excess granite fines increased viscosity.
• L-Box Test: Passing ability improved up to 10–15% GP, achieving the highest H?/H? ratio of 0.95, indicating excellent flow through reinforcement. Performance declined beyond 20% GP, and the 30% mix failed to meet the minimum SCC passing ability requirements.

Key Findings

The results demonstrate that moderate granite powder replacement improves SCC performance through a microfiller effect, which enhances particle packing, lubrication, and workability. However, excessive granite powder increases the amount of fine particles, raising water demand and viscosity, which negatively affects filling ability and passing performance.

Overall, the study indicates that granite powder replacement levels between approximately 10% and 20% provide the best balance between workability and SCC performance, while replacement levels above 25% significantly reduce fresh concrete quality.

Conclusion

This study investigated the effect of replacing natural river sand with granite powder at 0-30% in M35-grade self-compacting concrete designed per IS 10262:2019 and evaluated against IS 1199 (Part 6):2018. The following conclusions are drawn: 1) All mixes with GP ? 20% satisfied the SF2 slump flow, i.e., 660-750 mm, and VF1 V-funnel class 6-12 s, confirming compatibility with SCC workability requirements when appropriate superplasticizer dosage is maintained. 2) L-box H2/H1 ratios peaked at 0.95 for 10-15% GP and remained acceptable at 0.89 for 20% GP, before dropping below the IS 1199 threshold of 0.80 at 30% GP, marking 20% as the practical upper bound for passing ability. 3) A 20% GP replacement delivered maximum 28-day compressive strength 46.9 MPa, split tensile strength 4.05 MPa, and flexural strength 5.9 MPa, representing improvements of 20.9%, 28.6%, and 28.3% over the control mix. These improvements are linked to the microfiller effect of fine granite particles, which densify the cementitious matrix and improve aggregate-paste interfacial bonding. 4) Durability assessment showed that the optimum mix exhibited a marginal increase in water absorption 3.0% compared to the control mix, 2.8%. In comparison, abrasion loss decreased from 3.2% to 2.51%, representing a 21.6% improvement in abrasion resistance. 5) The use of granite powder promotes viable concrete production by reducing dependence on river sand and aiding the beneficial utilization of industrial waste materials.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Prashant Mishra, Er. Kritika Jamwal. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.