CHAPTER 4

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1 INTRODUCTION

Results from varius laboratory test conducted in this study are presented and dicuss in this chapter, the main purpose of the laboratory experimental program was to investigate the unconfined compressive strength of cement-mixed sand.
4.2 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The unconfined compression test results using different percentage of cement mixed with Sylhet sand and with different wetting day is discussed in the following subsections. 4.2.1 Effect of Cement Content The unconfined compressive strength, qu against axial strain,
a

of cement mixed Sylhet sand with three

different cement content of 4%, 6% and 8% are shown in Figures 4.1 to 4.10 for 10 different wetting days/conditions respectively. For all the specimens it is clear that the strength of the specimens increases considerably with the increase in cement content. On the other hand brittleness of the specimen after reaching the peak strength seems to be increases slightly with the increase in cement content. However, the increase of brittleness is not very obvious with the increase in cement content as was found in the previous literature (Rabbi et al. 2010). This is a very good indication of the possibility of using cement mixed Sylhet sand in the practice. But, before going for any conclusion, we need further research using the same material. Stiffness of the specimens also increases notably with the increase in cement content although some specimen shows larger axial strain at the initial stage of loading (For example, wetting day 28th with c = 6%, wetting day 8th with c = 6%, wetting day 8th and 15th with c = 6%, wetting day 7th, 14th and 21st with c = 6%). This means addition of cement with Sylhet sand makes the specimen stiff and brittle one. Peak strength variation with cement content for all the wetting conditions are shown in Figure 4.11. It can be observed that for all the wetting conditions, the peak strength increases at almost similar rate with the increase in cement content except in some cases. It can be explained by the sample preparation and curing method. As the initial water content used was 10% of overall material and sample was immediately wrapped with plastic bag, there is no loss of water during the curing period from the specimens. Therefore the specimens already have enough water to cure themselves as water/cement ratio required for proper strength gain varies from 0.5 to 1.0. Thus, wetting at later days does not affect the strength gaining of the specimens. However, specimens wetted on higher number of days (i.e. specimens with wetting days 6th, 12th, 18th, 23rd and specimens with wetting days 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 24th) shows larger rate of increase of strength with cement content. That means

increasing the contact hours with water increases the strength gaining rate as well as the strength of the specimens. On the other hand, specimens wetted on the 3rd day shows little smaller increasing rate of strength compared to the other specimens. This might be due to the possibility of washing out of cement content from the specimen as the specimen was submerged at early age. This effect can be more obvious if the specimen was washed in the second day of sample preparation and also if the water was flowing instead of stagnant water. In the future study, clear observation is required by varying the wetting day frequently and also using the flowing water which much more simulates the rainfall during and after the construction. The rate of increase of the specimens strength with cement content for different wetting conditions is summarized by the following equations: qmax = 97.005(c) - 193.71 qmax = 86.373(c) - 135.4 (4.1) (4.2) [For wetting day = 28th] [For wetting day = 8th]

Write the other equations here similar to the above.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 28th)

700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 4% c = 6% c = 8%

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.1: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 28th.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 8th)

700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 c = 4% 300 200 100 0 0 -100 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 6% c = 8%

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.2: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 8th.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 3rd)

700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 c = 4% 300 200 100 0 0 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 6% c = 8%

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.3: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 3rd.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 14th, 28th)

700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 c = 4% 300 200 100 0 0 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 6% c = 8%

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.4: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 28th.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 4th, 8th)

700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 c = 4% 300 200 100 0 0 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 6% c = 8%

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.5: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 28th.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 8th, 15th)

700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 c = 4% 300 200 100 0 0 -100 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 6% c = 8%

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.6: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 8th and 15th.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 10th, 19th)

700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 c = 4% 300 200 100 0 0 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 6% c = 8%

2.5

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.7: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 10th and 19th.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 7th, 14th, 21st)

700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 4% c = 6% c = 8%

2.5

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.8: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 7th, 14th and 21st.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 6th, 12th, 18th & 23rd)
700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 4% c = 6% c = 8%

2.5

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.9: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 6th, 12th, 18th and 23rd.

Unconfined compressive strenght (Wetting day = 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th & 24th)
700

Compressive strength, (kPa)

600 500 400 c = 4% 300 200 100 0 0 -100 0.5 1 1.5

a

c = 6% c = 8%

2.5

Axial Strain

(%)

Figure 4.10: Unconfined compressive strength for specimens wetted on day 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 24th.

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 28th)

Peak Strength, qmax (kPa) 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2 4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%) 10 qmax = 97.005(c) - 193.71 R = 0.9966 Peak Strength, qmax (kPa) 700 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 8th)

qmax = 86.373(c) - 135.4 R = 0.8641

4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%)

10

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 3rd)

Peak Strength, qmax (kPa) Peak Strength, qmax (kPa) 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2 4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%) 10 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 14th, 28th)

qmax = 66.581(c) + 7.6872 R = 0.9731

qmax = 72.737(c) - 70.306 R = 0.9324

4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%)

10

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 4th, 8th)

Peak Strength, qmax (kPa) qmax = 112.1(c) - 247.37 R = 0.978 Peak Strength, qmax (kPa) 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2 4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%) 10 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 8th, 15th)

qmax = 77.054(c) - 52.82 R = 0.9979

4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%)

10

Peak Strength, qmax (kPa)

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2

qmax = 85.377(c) - 105.74 R = 0.9998

Peak Strength, qmax (kPa)

700

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 10th, 19th)

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 7th, 14th, 21st)

qmax = 78.258(c) - 80.892 R = 0.9454

4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%)

10

4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%)

10

Peak Strength, qmax (kPa)

500 400 300 200 100 0 2

qmax = 104.65(c) - 216.48 R = 0.9793

Peak Strength, qmax (kPa)

700 600

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 6th, 12th, 18th, 23rd)

700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2

Peak Stregth (Wetting day = 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 24th)

qmax = 111.36(c) - 244.99 R = 0.9857

4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%)

10

4 6 8 Cement Content, c (%)

10

Figure 4.11: Peak strength variation with cement content for all the specimens.

4.3 DATA AND CALCULATION

4.3.1 SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SYLHET SAND Specimen 1 Weight of bottle =40.8gm Bottle+ sample=83.9gm Bottle+sample+water=168.2gm Bottle+water=141.8gm Sample weight=26.6gm For specimen 2 Weight of bottle =41.6gm Bottle+ sample=80.1gm Bottle+sample+water=164.8gm Bottle+water=140.9gm Sample weight=23.9gm

Specific gravity=Wa/(Wa-Ww) =43.1/(43.1-26.6) =2.61

Specific gravity=Wa/(Wa-Ww) =38.5/(38.5-23.9)

=2.64

Average specific gravity = (2.61+2.61)/2.0 = 2.625

4.3.2 FINENESS MODULUS OF SYLHET SAND: Sieve number #4 #8 # 16 # 30 # 50 # 100 # 200 Pan Retained(gm) 2.3 25.1 136 158.1 103.4 62.4 7.7 5.0 500 285.36 % of retained .46 5.02 27.2 31.62 20.68 12.48 Cumulative % .46 5.48 32.68 64.3 84.98 97.46 285.36/100=2.85 F.M

TABLE 4.1 DATA OF PEAK STRENGTH FOR ALL SPECIMEN: sample Strength of 4% cement content(N/cm ) A 20
2

Strength of 6% cement content(N/cm ) 38

2

Strength of 8% cement content(N/cm2) 56

B C D E F G H I J

24 21 23 21.5 25 23 27 22.5 24.5

25 31 40 31.5 39 32.5 33 40 36.37

54 47 51.5 70 59.5 57 55 57.5 65

TABLE 4.2 DATA OF INITIAL & FINAL SPECIFIC GRAVITY FOR ALL SPECIMEN: Sample no. A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 D3 E1 E2 E3 F1 F2 F3 G1 G2 Initial sp.gr Final 4% sp.gr4% 1.68 1.67 1.69 1.68 1.69 1.65 1.68 1.66 1.67 1.64 1.69 1.67 1.7 1.68 1.71 1.69 1.69 1.65 1.69 1.66 1.68 1.69 1.68 1.68 1.7 1.68 1.67 1.69 1.67 1.69 1.63 1.62 1.65 1.61 1.63 1.66 1.64 1.65 1.63 1.62 I.sg.6% 1.69 1.68 1.66 1.7 1.69 1.65 1.67 1.65 1.68 1.67 1.64 1.66 1.65 1.67 1.65 1.68 1.65 1.63 1.68 1.65 F.sg.6% I.sg.8% 1.68 1.66 1.65 1.67 1.65 1.63 1.61 1.63 1.65 1.63 1.61 1.64 1.61 1.63 1.64 1.66 1.64 1.61 1.64 1.62 1.71 1.69 1.7 1.68 1.67 1.67 1.7 1.69 1.7 1.7 1.68 1.67 1.69 1.7 1.68 1.71 1.72 1.73 1.7 1.72 F.sg.8% 1.68 1.66 1.67 1.65 1.68 1.65 1.71 1.68 1.68 1.69 1.67 1.69 1.65 1.66 1.65 1.7 1.67 1.68 1.71 1.67

G3 H1 H2 H3 I1 I2 I3 J1 J2 J3

1.66 1.68 1.65 1.66 1.7 1.69 1.65 1.69 1.68 1.69

1.64 1.63 1.66 1.67 1.68 1.63 1.61 1.65 1.64 1.67

1.63 1.67 1.69 1.68 1.68 1.69 1.67 1.68 1.69 1.67

1.65 1.63 1.67 1.65 1.66 1.67 1.65 1.64 1.66 1.62

1.69 1.68 1.69 1.68 1.67 1.68 1.69 1.68 1.7 1.67

1.72 1.66 1.73 1.63 1.66 1.65 1.67 1.65 1.67 1.64

4.4 GRAPH : FOR SAME WETTING DAY AT DIFERENT CEMENT CONTENT

Unconfined Compressive Strength Vs. % of Cement Content of Cemented Sand

60 Strength (N/cm2) 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 y = 9x - 16 R = 1

Percent of cement content by weight

Fig. 4.1 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 28 days curing.For sample A From above Fig. 4.1, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% , 6% & 8% the peak strength is 20N/cm2, 38N/cm2 & 56N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y=9X-16 Where ,Y=Peak strength in N/cm2 X=% of cement content.

Unconfined compressive strength vs. % of cement content of cemented sand

60 50 Strength (N/cm2) 40 30 20 10 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 y = 7.5x - 10.667 R = 0.775

Percent of cement content by weight

Fig. 4.2 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 8 days curing.For sample B

From above Fig. 4.2, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% , 6% & 8% the peak strength is 24, 25 & 54N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y=7.5X-10.66 Where ,Y=Peak strength in N/cm2 X=% of cement content

Unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content of cemented sand 50 45 40 Strength (N/cm2) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 y = 6.5x - 6 R = 0.9826

Percent of cement content by weight

Fig. 4.3 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 3 days curing.For sample C From above Fig. 4.3, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% , 6% & 8% the peak strength is 21, 31 & 47N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y=6.5X-6 Where ,Y= Peak strength in N/cm2 X= % of cement content For above three figure it is shown that when curing was done after the 28th days from first its peak strength is larger then curing after the 3rd days and 8th days from first.

Unconfined compressive strength vs. % cement content of cemented sand

60 Strength (N/cm2) 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 y = 7.125x - 4.5833 R = 0.9877

Percent of cement content by weight

Fig. 4.4 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 14,28TH days curing.For sample D From above Fig. 4.4, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% , 6% & 8% the peak strength is 23, 40 & 51.5N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y=7.125X-4.583 Where ,Y=Peak strength in N/cm2 X=% of cement content

Unconfined compressive strength vs. % of cement content of cemented sand 80 70 60 Strength (N/cm2) 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 y = 12.125x - 31.75 R = 0.8968

Percent Of cement content by weight

Fig. 4.5 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 4,8TH days curing.For sample E From above Fig. 4.5, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% , 6% & 8% the peak strength is 21.5, 33.5 & 70N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y=12.12X-31.75 Where ,Y=Peak strength in N/cm2 X=% of cement content

Unconfined compressive strength vs. % of cement content of cemented sand 70 60 Strength (N/cm2) 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 y = 8.625x - 10.583 R = 0.9883

Percent Of cement content by weights

Fig. 4.6 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 15 ,8TH days curing.For sample F From above Fig. 4.6, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% , 6% & 8% the peak strength is 21.5, 33.5 & 70N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y= 8.625X-10.58 Where , Y= Peak strength in N/cm2 X= % of cement content

Unconfined compressive strength vs. % of cement content of cemented sand 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 y = 8.5x - 13.5 R = 0.9391

Strength (N/cm2)

Percent Of cement content by weight

Fig. 4.7 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 10, 19TH days curing.For sample G From above Fig. 4.7, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% , 6% & 8% the peak strength is 23, 32.5 & 57N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y= 8.5X-13.5 Where , Y= Peak strength in N/cm2 X= % of cement content

Unconfined compressive strength vs. % of cement content of cemented sand 60 50 S trength (N/cm2) 40 30 20 10 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 y = 7x - 3.6667 R = 0.9018

Percent Of cement content by weight

Fig. 4.8 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 7 , 14, 21TH days curing. For sample H From above Fig. 4.8, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% ,6% & 8% the peak strength is 27, 33 & 55N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y= 7X-3.666 Where , Y= Peak strength in N/cm2 X= % of cement content

Unconfined compressive strength vs. % of cement content of cemented sand

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 2 4

Strength (N/cm2)

y = 8.75x - 12.5 R = 1

10

Percent Of cement content by weight

Fig .4.9 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 6 ,12, 18 , 23TH days curing.For sample I From above Fig. 4.9, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% , 6% & 8% the peak strength is 22.5, 40 & 57.5N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y= 8.75X-12.5 Where , Y= Peak strength in N/cm2 X= % of cement content

Unconfined compressive strength vs. % of cement content of cemented sand

70 60 50 Strength (N/cm2) 40 30 20 10 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 y = 10.125x - 18.793 R = 0.946

Percent Of cement content by weight

Fig.4.10 unconfined compressive strength vs.% of cement content after 5, 10, 15, 20, 24TH days curing.For sample j From above Fig. 4.10, its clear that peak strength increase with the increase of % of cement content. When % of cement content is 4% , 6% & 8% the peak strength is 24.5, 36.37 & 65N/cm2 respectively. so the strength is increase according to the Equation , Y= 10.12X-18.79 Where , Y= Peak strength in N/cm2 X= % of cement content

4.5 GRAPH:FOR SAME CEMENT CONTENT AT DIFERENT CURING DAY

Unconfined compressive strength vs. Days of wetting

60 y = 0.2857x + 48.619 R = 0.6397 50

Strength (N/cm2)

40

y = 0.3857x + 26.319 R = 0.615 4% 6% y = -0.0857x + 22.781 R = 0.2967

30

20

8%

10

0 0 5 10 15 Day of wetting 20 25 30

Fig 4.5.1: unconfined compressive strength vs.days of wetting for sample (A,B,C)

TABLE4.5.1 :DATA FOR FIG. 4.5.1 wetting day 28 8 3 peak value of 4% 20 24 21 peak value of 6% 38 25 31 peak value of 8% 56 54 47

unconfined compressive strenth vs.hours of wetting

80 70 60 Strength (N/cm2) 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 y = 0.2436x + 14.877 R = 0.5493 y = 0.1534x + 10.595 R = 0.4863 4% 6% 8% y = 0.4x + 24.221 R = 0.5595

hours of wetting

Fig 4.5.2: unconfined compressive strength vs.days of wetting for sample

TABLE 4.5.2 DATA FOR FIG. 4.5.2

wetting hours 24 48 72 96 120

peak value for 4% (N/cm2) 21.67 23.125 27 22.5 24.5

peak value for 6% peak value for 8% (N/cm2) (N/cm2) 31.33 52.33 36.25 59.5 33 55 40 57.5 36.37 65

From above fig. 4.5.2 the unconfined compressive strength