A Comparative Study on Quality of Aggregates from Different River Basin of Tanahun District, Nepal

Abstract

Aggregate characteristics that are significant for making concrete include porosity, grading or size distribution, moisture absorption, shape, and surface texture, crushing strength, elastic modulus, and the type of deleterious substances present. These characteristics are derived from mineralogical composition of the parent rock (which is affected by geological rock-formation processes), exposure conditions to which the rock has been subjected to before mining, and the type of equipment used for producing the aggregate. The main objective of this study was to Compare quality of aggregates available in different river basins of Tanahun district. There are four rivers that flows through the Tanahun district (Seti Gandaki, Madi, Kaligandaki, Marshyangdi) from which four crusher plants each basins source was selected. The physical and mechanical properties of the aggregates each river basins were tested as per specifications relying Nepalese and Indian standards. Based on the physical and mechanical properties of aggregates, all the sources are found to be satisfactory based on specifications relying Nepalese and Indian standards. One set of cubes (15cmx15cmx15cm) for 7 & 14 days and two set cubes for 28 days compressive strength check was cast and tested for each basin at normal room temperature. The 28 days compressive strength of cubes for the nominal ratio 1:1:2 at w/c ratio 0.5 of aggregates from Marshyandi, Madi, Seti & Kaligandaki River basins were found to be 29.59 MPa, 26.43 MPa, 31.65 MPa and 31.26 MPa respectively. The compressive strength of Madi River basins seems slightly less than as compared with other river basins in similar condition. This might be due to fundamentals of rock formation, classification and description of rocks and minerals, and industrial processing factors.