A Review on Use of Silica Sand and Silica Fume in Improving the Mechanical Properties of Concrete

Abstract

Study investigate the enhancement of high--strength concrete (HSC) through the combined use of silica sand, silica fume, and a polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticizer. Silica sand serves as a fine aggregate replacement, improving packing density and reducing porosity, while silica fume acts as a pozzolanic material that refines the microstructureand increases strength. Experimental evaluation of workability, compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths revealed that replacing 15–30% of fine aggregate with silica sand and 5–10% of cement with silica fume yields optimal performance. The combined contribution of these materials produces dense, durable, and high-performance concrete suitable for modernstructural applications.

Introduction

High-Strength Concrete (HSC) has become essential for modern infrastructure due to its superior mechanical performance and durability compared to conventional concrete, which often fails under aggressive environmental conditions. To achieve enhanced strength and sustainability, researchers increasingly incorporate supplementary materials such as silica sand, silica fume, and polycarboxylate ether (PCE) superplasticizers.

Silica sand, an industrial by-product with over 95% SiO?, improves packing density and reduces voids when used as a partial replacement for fine aggregates (typically 15–30%). Silica fume, a highly reactive pozzolanic material replacing 5–10% of cement, refines the microstructure by producing additional C–S–H gel and strengthening the interfacial transition zone (ITZ). The addition of a PCE-based superplasticizer ensures workability at low water–cement ratios, leading to a dense and uniform matrix. Combined, these materials significantly enhance strength, durability, and sustainability of HSC.

The materials used in such mixes include OPC 53-grade cement, natural river sand (with silica sand used as a sustainable alternative), crushed coarse aggregates (20 mm), silica fume, PCE superplasticizer, and clean potable water. Each component meets specified IS standards to ensure quality and structural performance.

Literature Review Findings

• Nataraja et al. (2018): Replacing 25% of fine aggregate with silica sand increased compressive strength by 12–18% and tensile strength by 10–15%, due to improved packing density, reduced porosity, and better bonding.

• Douadi et al. (2023): Mortar tests showed optimal results at 20–30% silica sand replacement, improving strength and microstructural compactness because of the sand’s angular shape and high silica content.

Conclusion

The overall study concludes that the combined incorporation of silica sand and silica fume in High-Strength Concrete (HSC) significantly enhances both mechanical and durability properties [4],[6],[7]. Replacement of fine aggregate with silica sand (15–30%) improves particle packing, reduces porosity, and increases compressive and tensile strength [4],[5]. Use of silica fume (5–10%) as a partial cement replacement refines the microstructure, strengthens the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), and enhances chemical resistance through additional C–S–H gel formation [6],[7]. The inclusion of PCE-based superplasticizers (1–1.5%) improves flowability, compaction, and uniform dispersion of cement particles at low water–cement ratios [10],[16]. The combined mix exhibits superior strength, workability, permeability resistance, and long-term durability, making it suitable for high-performance and marine applications [4],[5],[6],[7],[10],[16]. Environmentally, the replacement of natural river sand with silica sand promotes sustainable concrete production, conserving natural resources and reducing ecological impact [5],[7].

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Vivek Kumar Singh, Amitesh Tripathi, Dipanshu Pandey, Anamika Chaudhary, Sarvesh Kumar Mishra, Dr. Praveen Yadav. 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.