BY-PRODUCTS OF SEASHELLS IN FLUID CONCRETES: REPLACEMENT AS AN ADDITION AND A FINE AGGREGATE

Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the rheological and physic-mechanical properties of a self- compacting concrete elaborated with seashells as an addition cementitious (total replacement of limestone fillers) and a fine aggregate (partial and total substitution of sand). Having crushed shells (obtaining fine aggregate) and also finely crushed seashells (obtaining fine powder), concretes will be manufactured using these two products. Rheological characterization tests (fluidity, flow and segregation) and physic-mechanical (density and mechanical strength) will be made on these concretes. The results obtained will be compared with the characteristics of a self-compacting concrete witness (fillers of limestone and fine aggregate). The obtained results show that the substitution of limestone fillers by the finely crushed sea shells (as an addition end) as well as the substitution of sand by crushed seashells (as fine aggregates) has greatly improved the concrete compactness causing an increase mechanical strength with a slight reduction of concrete fluidity.