International Conference on Smart Automation in Computer, Electrical, Electronics

And Communication Engineering September 6-7, 2019

Spent garnet as replacement in self compacting geo-

polymer concrete
M.Roshini M.Indhumathy Dr.S.Gunaselvi
Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering
SRM Valliammai Engineering College SRM Valliammai engineering college SRM Valliammai Engineering College
Chennai, India Chennai, India Chennai,India
roshinim129@gmail.com indhumanoharan96@gmail.com skgunaselvi@yahoo.co.in

Abstract— In India, natural river sand (fine aggregate) is traditionally used in concrete .However, growing environment
restrictions to the exploitation of sand from river beds leads to the utilization of an alternative material, spent garnet which is a
waste obtained from surface treatment process for the sustainable development in the construction industry . In addition to this , to
minimize the environmental pollution , Portland cement is replaced by an alternative material called fly ash which on reaction with
alkaline solution forms a binder gel giving rise to geo –polymer . This paper investigates about the optimum usage of spend garnet
as a replacement for fine aggregate in the self-compacting geo-polymer concrete (SCGPC). Such SCGPC specimens are prepared
by fully replacing cement by fly ash and alkaline solution. Whereas, fine aggregate is partially replaced by 25% and 50% of spent
garnet. This work is concerned with the experimental investigation on strength properties of SCGPC with the optimum percentage
replacement garnet for the aggregate. Test results obtained was compared with conventional geo-polymer with respect to
compressive strength , split tensile strength and flexure strength at 7,14 and 28 days. From the results, it was concluded that 25%
of spent garnet was optimum in terms of all the strength aspects. The high contents of silica, alumina and iron in the spent garnet
were indeed responsible for such improved performance.

Keywords—Spent Garnet, Alternative, Self-Compacting, Alkaline solutions

I. INTRODUCTION times keeping their overall properties intact. Finally, these

recycled garnets degrade to an extent where they cannot be
Fast industrial expansion has witnessed the ever-growing further reutilized for abrasive discharge. Then, they are taken
usage of sand from rivers for numerous production functions away from the shipyards and designated as “spent garnet”.
which led to an over-utilization of rivers beds and disturbed Recently, it is recognized that the exploitation of these spent
the environment. Recently, extensive researches have hooked garnets as replacement for fine aggregates in SCGPC may
up that modified concretes acquired by way of incorporating open up new avenue towards the realization of alternative
waste substances can result in sustainable product construction materials to the conventional Portland cement
improvement. In this regard, utilization of waste garnets (PC) based concrete.
emerged as a promising alternative in its personal right. The
subject matter spent garnet is turning into a substantial The production of PC has some main obstacle such as
difficulty in phrases of recycling this new waste cloth and the depletion of natural habitats, manufacturing of fossil
similarly reuse as useful sand replacement in concrete. The fuels, and huge amount of CO2 which is released and other
so called “garnet” is a generic word that refers to an greenhouse gases unless inhibited. To overcome these
assemblage of multifaceted minerals of silicate compounds limitations, many dedicated efforts are made to search for
containing Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Ferrous iron efficient alternative method such as alkali-activated materials
(Fe) or Manganese (Mn), Aluminium (Al), Chromium (Cr), (AAMs) often named as geo-polymer. It is realized that the
Ferric iron (Fe) or even Titanium (Ti) having analogous spent garnets may be advantageous for sustainable
crystal lattice structures and varied chemical formulas. development compared to PC (the principal binder) upon
Interestingly, the angular fractures and hardness properties of their usage as a partial precursor substance. Additionally,
garnets together with their ability to be recycled make them based on the implemented raw minerals and alkaline
advantageous for numerous abrasive applications. The substances, the final outcome displays improved
common chemical composition of garnet is A3B2(SiO4)3 characteristics than PC concrete.
wherein the element “A” may be Ca, Mg, ferrous iron, or Categorically, self-compacting concretes (SCCs) flow
Mn, Al, Cr, ferric iron or Ti . Garnets have major industrial that under their own weight without requiring any external
uses such as water jet cutting, abrasive blast medium and vibration for compaction has revolutionized the concrete
powder granule for water filtration, etc. Generally, abrasive placement.
blasting technique used to prepare the surfaces for coating
and painting. This technique is used for the construction of II. LITERATURE REVIEW
vessels, ship maintenance and repair activities. Thus, blasting
Habeeb lateef muttashar, shafiq bin ishaq (2018) studied the
process creates large quantities of exhausted garnet wastes
mixed with surface elements such as paint chips and oil. feasibility of using spent garnet at high percentage level as
Such garnet wastes cause many environmental and health sand replacement to achieve enhanced SCGPCs for
hazards such as water contamination when these materials economic and environmental friendly applications. The
are entered in the waterways during flood or through runoffs. performance of the proposed SCGPCs was evaluated in
Therefore, spent garnets pose a threat to the ecological terms of compression, flexural, split tensile strength,
balance and biodiversity. Garnets can be reused about 3–5 durability and workability test. The fresh properties revealed

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 International Conference on Smart Automation in Computer, Electrical, Electronics
And Communication Engineering September 6-7, 2019
satisfactory performance with high compressive strength. to IS: 383-1970 comes under grading zone II. The coarse
Spent garnet replacement level of 25% revealed the aggregate used has a specific gravity of 2.76.
optimum performance. Namita patiyal studied the following
D. Alkaline Solution
in this investigations: The silica ash – GGBS based
geopolymer concrete gained strength with earlier time The sodium hydroxide (Na OH) solution was prepared by
period through oven curing at 80 ○ C. the optimum dissolving either the flakes or the pellets in water. The mass
of Na OH solids in a solution varies depending on the
percentage for replacement of foundry sand with natural
concentration of the solution expressed in terms of molar,
sand is almost 10% for cylinders. We have put forth a
M., Na OH solution with a concentration of 12M consisted
simple step to minimize the costs for construction with
of 12x40 = 480 grams of Na OH solids (in flake or pellet
usage of foundry sand which is freely or cheaply available;
form) per liter of the solution, where 40 is the molecular
more importantly. N A Lloyd and B V Rangan concluded
weight of Na OH. The concentration of sodium silicate
based on the tests conducted on various short-term and long-
contains Na2O = 16.37%, SiO2 = 34.35% and H2O = 49.28
term properties of the geo-polymer concrete and the results
% was used.
of the tests conducted on large-scale reinforced geo-polymer
concrete members show that geo-polymer concrete is well- IV. EXPERIMENTATION
suited to manufacture precast concrete products that can be
used in infrastructure developments. In this paper a simple A. Mix Design
method to design geo-polymer concrete mixtures has also a) Characteristic compressive strength of Geo-
described and illustrated by an example. The paper also polymer Concrete = 30MPa.
includes brief details of some recent applications of geo b) Type of curing: Oven curing at 60 °C for 24 h
polymer concrete. and tested after 7, 14 and 28 days
c) Workability in terms of flow = 50 - 100 %
III. MATERIALS (Degree of workability—high)
A. Garnet d) Fly ash Fineness in terms of specific surface:
The specific gravity of spent garnet was ascribed 430 m2/kg
to the elevated contents of iron oxide high (Fe2O3) in it. The e) Alkaline activators (Na2SiO3 and NaOH)
water absorption value was higher than the maximum limit d) Concentration of Sodium hydroxide in terms of
for fine aggregate. The bulk density of spent garnet is higher molarity: 12 M
when compared to that of river sand and this might be due to f) Concentration of Sodium silicate solution: 50.32
reduced void content. The garnet corresponds to the mesh % solid content
size 80.The finer particles of spent garnet might have filled g) Solution-to-fly ash ratio by mass: 0.35
pore and optimized the pore structure, however, it lead to h) Sodium silicate-to-sodium hydroxide ratio by
higher water demand.Fig.1 represents the garnet sand. mass: 1.0
B. Test specimen
The sodium silicate solution and the sodium
hydroxide solution were mixed together at least one day
prior to use to prepare the alkaline liquid. On the day of
casting of the specimens, the alkaline liquid was mixed
together with the super plasticizer and the extra water to
prepare the liquid component of the mixture. The
conventional method used in the making of normal concrete
is adopted to prepare geo-polymer concrete. First, the fine
aggregate, coarse aggregate and Fly ash are mixed in dry
Fig.1 condition for 3-4 minutes and then the alkaline solution
which is a combination of Sodium hydroxide solution and
B. Fly Ash
Sodium silicate solution with super-plasticizer is added to
These micron-sized earth elements consist the dry mix. The mixing is done about 6-8 minutes for
primarily of silica, alumina and iron. Fly ash particles are proper bonding of all the materials. After the mixing, 27
almost totally spherical in shape, allowing them to flow and specimens are casted with the mixes. Cube specimens of
blend freely in mixtures. Fly ash improves considerably the 150×150×150 mm, cylinder specimens of 150 ×300mm,
performance of binder paste and increases the bonding Beam specimens of 100×100×500 mm are casted. The
action with aggregate and reinforcement. Fly ash used in specimens were demoulded after 24 hours of casting and
this study was low-calcium (ASTM Class F) dry fly ash. immediately stored in the oven for duration of 24 hours at
60˚C temperature and its strength is tested after a test
C. Aggregate periods of 7,14,28 days.
The material which passes through BIS test sieve
no 4 (4.75 mm) is termed as fine aggregate. Usually, natural
sand is used as a fine aggregate. In this project, it conforms

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 International Conference on Smart Automation in Computer, Electrical, Electronics
And Communication Engineering September 6-7, 2019
V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION the flexural strength are 2.67N/mm2, 3.16 N/mm2 and 1.5
N/mm2 respectively.Fig.4 represents the flexural strength of
A. Compressive strength
the specimens.
The cube compressive strength for controlled
concrete specimens and test specimens (with 25% and 50%
replacement of garnet with sand) have been ascertained at 7,
14 and 28 days. On comparison, average compressive
strength of 20.79 N/mm2 was observed in the replacement of
50% of garnet in 7 days. From the 14 days test results, it was
found to have an average compressive strength of 32.5
N/mm2 for 25 % replacement of garnet. The 28 days results
shows an average compressive strength of 38.14 N/mm2.
Overall, SCGPC specimens casted with 25% spent garnet
substitution for normal sand yielded the maximum strength
all over the curing period and thereby selected as the best
mixture. Fig.2 shows the chart representation of the
compressive strength of the specimens.
Fig.4

VI. CONCLUSION
This paper reports the feasibility of using spent garnets
at high percentage level as sand replacement to achieve
enhanced SCGPCs for economic and environmental friendly
applications. The SCGPC specimens were prepared using
GGBFS where spent garnet was used to re-place the river
sand. Spent garnet replacement level of 25% revealed the
optimum performance regarding both flow ability and
mechanical properties. An increase in the spent garnet
Fig.2 replacement levels beyond 25% caused a reduction in the
B. Spliting tensile test strength of SCGPCs. The irregular, high specific surface area
and porous nature of spent garnet was found to play a
The splitting tensile test results shows that increase significant role for achieving high performing SCGPCs. The
in percentage of garnet decreases the tensile strength. The 7 high contents of silica, alumina and iron in the spent garnet
days and 28 days result shows the maximum tensile strength were indeed responsible for such improved performance.
for 25% replacement of garnet. The decrease in tensile
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