Quality Assessment of Concrete produced with Marble dust as Partial Replacement of Cement using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test

Cement concrete is one of the most frequently used materials in the construction industry. Constant studies are being carried out to find some alternative material to save natural resources and instead make use of industrial byproducts/waste material which is otherwise polluting the environment. Marble dust which is an industrial waste obtained from sawing, shaping, cutting and polishing of different marbles, is a big environmental hazard. Around 6.8 million tonnes of marble dust is currently being dumped annually in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in India. Although past studies have already investigated the use of this material as a substitute for fine aggregates, since its distribution of particle size is nearer to that of cement, it could be more appropriate for partial replacement of cement in concrete. Cement concrete cubes of size 150 mm were cast as control specimens for two different grades of concrete (M25 Grade and M30 Grade). Effect of marble dust on compressive strength of concrete with varying %age of marble dust as partial replacement of cement is investigated in this study. Marble dust is used as 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 percent partial substitute of cement by weight in concrete mixes. The compressive strength of concrete mixes is studied at age of 28 days and maximum value of compressive strength is observed at 10% partial replacement of marble dust with cement for both grades of concrete. The quality of concrete so produced is also assessed by using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (USPV) method. The ultrasonic pulse velocity is 3850, 4100, 4350 and 3710 m/s for M25 grade concrete and 3870, 4120, 4360 and 3700 m/s for M30 grade concrete for 0%, 5% and 15 % partial replacement of marble dust with cement. As per IS :13311(Part 1):1992 these values of pulse velocities represents good quality of concrete and also justified the use of marble dust in concrete up to 15 percent for both grades of concrete (M25 and M30).