INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTS OF COARSE AGGREGATE SIZE ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE
Concrete being versatile, durable and cost-effective material is seeing as one of the most widely used construction materials in the world. Its compressive strength is considered as the most crucial mechanical property determining its performance and suitability for various applications. Despite the widespread use of natural gravel (bush gravel) as a low-cost aggregate in concrete production across rural and developing regions, the effects of its varying particle sizes on the compressive strength of concrete remain in adequately understood and poorly documented leading to inconsistent structural performance and reliability. This study investigated the influence of aggregate size on fresh and harden properties of concrete. The research examined different maximum aggregate sizes of; 12mm, 20mm, 25mm, and 30mm while maintaining consistent water-cement ratio, and mixing proportions. Specimens were tested for compressive strength at 3, 7, and 28 days of curing ages and slump tests. The experimental results demonstrated that concrete mixtures with maximum aggregate sizes of 20mm exhibited optimal compressive strength values, while smaller and larger aggregate sizes showed a slight decrease in strength. Hence, it is observed that 20 mm maximum size aggregate displayed the maximum strength and therefore recommended as the optimal size to achieve desired strength under same conditions.
Authors : Mohammad, B.Y., Yazid, A. and Mustapha, M.S.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 10(1) Date Uploaded : 8th August 2025