Influence of manufactured sand characteristics on strength and abrasion resistance of pavement cement concrete

Manufactured sand (MS) particles are generally more angular with a rougher surface texture than river sand (RS) particles. MS can also contain significant quantities of particles smaller than 75 μm called rock microfines. This paper present results from a laboratory study on the influence of the MS characteristics, such as rock microfines content, surface roughness, crushing value and rock types of MS particles, on the strength and abrasion resistance of pavement cement concrete (PCC). Resulted show that the increment of limestone microfines amount in MS from 4.3% to 20% by mass increases the compressive and flexural strengths and improves the abrasion resistance of the MS-PCC. The MS-PCC has higher compressive and flexural strengths when the surface roughness of the sand particles is larger and the crushing value is lower. The abrasion resistance of MS-PCC is improved with the increment of surface roughness and deceases of crushing value and Los Angeles abrasion value of sand particles, while has not evident relation with the silicon content of sand.

► Manufactured sand characteristics have a great influence on pavement performances of concrete.
► Increasing rock microfines amount to 20% will increase strength and improve abrasion resistance of concrete.
► Sand with both large roughness and low crushing value is beneficial to enhance flexural strength and abrasion resistance.
► Concrete abrasion resistance has not relation with silicon content of sand.