Dredged marine sand as a new source for construction materials

Abstract

This work deals with the use of dredged marine sand (DMS) in pastes and mortars as construction material. Different materials from two Spanish ports were used: DMS-0 from Sant Carles de la Ràpita and DMS-A, DMS-B and DMS-C from Barcelona. The aim of the study was to assess DMS as addition (its influence on cohesion and fluidity) or as a fine granular corrector (its influence on compressive strength) in different mixes of cement paste and mortars, respectively. Two experimental stages were carried out: firstly, DMS-0 material was used on the production of pastes and mortars (partial substitution of raw sand 0/2 mm); secondly, DMS-A, DMS-B and DMS-C were used on mortar production (partial substitution of raw sand 0/5 mm). The fresh and hardened properties obtained were compared to those of the control mixes; the results revealed 25 % as an optimum substitution ratio of raw sands for DMS.