Effect of Crude Oil Impacted Sand on compressive strength of concrete

Effects of Crude Oil Impacted Sand (COIS) on the compressive strength of concrete was examined. Concrete mix, 1:1.8:2.7 was designed for all specimens with w/c of 0.5. Crude oil (2.5%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) by weight of sand was used to contaminate sand for the preparation of COIS concrete. 147, 100 mm concrete cubes (21 control and 126 contaminated samples) were produced. The cubes were cured and the compressive strengths determined at ages 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, 84, and 168 days. COIS concrete samples showed slow rate of strength gain, and strength reduction compared with the control samples. A 18–90% compressive strength was lost due to 2.5–25% crude oil contamination, respectively.

► The research focused on the effect of crude oil contaminated sand on the compressive strength of concrete.
► The reduction of compressive strength of concrete by the presence of COIS increases with the concentration of crude oil in the sand.
► The use of COIS as fine aggregate of concrete has more serious effect on its compressive strength compared with concrete cured in crude oil media.
► Sands containing more than 5% crude oil contamination reduce compressive strength of the concrete more than 50%.