CRUSHED LIMESTONE AS COARSE AGGREGATE IN CONCRETE BLOCKS

Abstract

Concrete blocks of (15cm. x 20cm. x 40cm.) in size were cast using the crushed limestone( produced in large quantities in Al-molawatha region in north-east of Mosul city ) as coarseaggregate instead of the river gravel.Based on the experimental work of the present investigation, the followings may be drawn :1. Crushed Limestone may be used satisfactorily as coarse aggregate for making quality concrete of a desirable compressive strength, and it may be suggested to be a solution for regions where natural aggregate are scarce and a reduction in the dead weight of structure may be desirable.2. The unit weight of Crushed Limestone concrete is (2060) kg/m3 which is about (10)%lower than that of river gravel concrete, and the blocks obtained may be classified as a (class B) in accordance with Iraqi Specification.3. The absorption capacity of the crushed limestone concrete is lower than that of the rivergravel concrete. 4. This research enable in preventing the environment and industrial places from pollution, aswell as saving areas for collecting these crushed materials.5. This research has a certification of testing industrial specimens No. 2/12/1/3644 on20/12/2004 issued by the Ministry of Planning and Central Measurement & Quality Control Office, Construction Department[17].