Effect of reducing coarse aggregates on concrete strength

This paper reports the results of experimental investigation carried out on the effect of reducing coarse aggregate (CA) quantity in mix proportions on the compressive strength of concrete. It also presents empirical formulas aimed at optimizing a concrete mix design for desert regions. Intensive laboratory experiment of 1350 samples of 30 different concrete mixes using three curing methods was carried out. The influences of the water/cement (W/C) ratio, coarse and fine aggregates (FA), CA/total aggregate (CA/TA) ratio, TA/C ratio, and curing methods (air curing, oven curing, and water curing) on the compressive strength of concrete were characterized and analyzed. Mathematical formula was developed for concrete strength as a function of CA quantity that ranges from the standard quantity to null, and another formula was developed for the quantity of FA as a function of compressive strength.