EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF

MORTAR PREPARED USING

INDUSTRIAL SOLID WASTE AS FINE
AGGREGATE
Rathod Mehulkumar R. (Enrollment No: 130280715017) 2Prof. Poonam I. Modi
1
2
P.G. Student, Assistant Professor, Applied Mechanics Department, L.D.C.E, Ahmedabad
1

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the strength of the mortar that is prepared by
replacing the fine aggregate i.e. sand with 0%, 25% and 50% of Quarry dust and
Foundry sand respectively. These industrial by-products are generally dumped in
landfills in huge quantities which disturbs the Ecology. In this study, an attempt is made
to evaluate the efficacy of the waste products when used in mortar for brick masonry.
Two proportions of the mortar were selected for the study i.e. 1:4 and 1:6. 7 th days and
28th days compressive strength of Mortar cubes and the mechanical properties of the
final end product i.e. Brick masonry were determined at 28 th days. The tests included the
Compressive strength of the brick prisms, Bond strength of the mortar in brick prism
under flexure and in shear.
1. INTRODUCTION
. Mortar is a workable paste used to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and
concrete masonry units together, fill and seal the irregular gaps between them.
. Application of Mortar
(i). Brickwork and finishing the surfaces. (ii) Plastering works. (iii).Water proofing
to prevent the leakage.
2. OBECTIVE OF THE STUDY
. To examine the suitability of using industrial solid wastes like Foundry sand and
Quarry dust as fine aggregate in mortar.
. To develop the comparative analysis of the following parameters:
(i) Compressive strength of mortar, (ii) Brick mortar prism compressive strength
(iii) Flexural bond strength, (iv) Shear bond strength.

Compressive Strength of Cubes (N/mm2)

0%
25
%

Natural Quarry Foundry

sand
dust
sand

Properties

1
Fineness Modulus
2.36
2. Specific gravity
2.64
3. Bulk density(kN/m3) 14.71
4. Water absorption (%)
2
5. Moisture content (%) 1.4

2.66
2.67
15.53
5.8
Nil

Figure: 28 Days Comp. strength of cubes VS

Fine aggregates for Mortar Mix 1:4

IS 2116 1980[1]
IS 2386 (Part III) 1963[2]
IS 2386 (Part III) 1963[2]
IS 2386 (Part III) 1963[2]
IS 2386 (Part III) 1963[2]

(B) Compressive Strength of Mortar Cubes : As per IS: 22501981[3]

. Mix Proportions, 1:4 and 1:6 were selected for the compressive strength of mortar
cubes at 7th and 28th days and the following mortar mix were prepared:
M1- Cement : River Sand (control mix)
M2- Cement : 25% Quarry Stone Dust + 75% River Sand
M3- Cement : 25% Foundry Sand + 75% River Sand
M4- Cement : 50% Quarry Stone Dust + 50% River Sand
(a)
M5- Cement : 50% Foundry Sand + 50% River Sand

W/C ratio
Flow Value (%)
Water Retentivity
(%)

1:4
1:6
1:4
1:6
1:4
1:6

0.63
0.76
111
112
72.3
71.5

Avg. Shear Bond Strength of Brick

Triplets (N/mm2) at 28th Days
Mortar
Mix

M1

M2

M3

M4

M5

1:4

0.62

0.83

0.7

0.45

0.49

1:6

0.31

0.46

0.39

0.18

0.26

Figure: Shear bond strength on

Brick triplet (Before and After Test)

(E) Flexural Bond Strength: Modified Bond Wrench Test [6] :

The modified bond wrench test set-up as shown below figure was used to determine
the Bond strength of the masonry unit in flexure . Brick prism size 215 x 490 x 100 mm
were casted using test mortar. This load causes a moment in the prism, which will
further cause a flexure failure between the masonry unit and the mortar
Flexural bond strength, (N/mm2)
f = P.L + P1.L1
Where, P = Max. load (N), L= 780mm
Z
L1= 280 mm, Z= Section modulus(mm3)
Avg. Flexural Bond Strength of Brick
Prisms (N/mm2) at 28th Days
Mortar Mix

M1

M2

M3

M4

M5

M2

M3

M4

M5

1:4

0.23

0.28

0.24

0.21

0.26

0.77
0.85
114
113
80.7
74.9

0.66
0.80
110
110
72.8
70.3

0.92
1.05
113
112
76.3
73.2

0.96
1.25
111
112
71.4
69.1

1:6

0.20

0.23

0.21

0.18

0.17

Figure: Modified Bond Wrench

Test Setup

(b)

The water is added to mixing bowl until the mortar make (c)
workable to give a flow 110 to 115 by flow table test. And
. also water retentivity of mortar should not be less than 70%.
(C) Compressive Strength of Brick Masonry Prism[4] :
Figure: Flow of (a)
The brick prisms of size 215 x 215 x 400 mm for 1:4 and
Natural sand (b) Quarry
1:6 mortar proportion prepared by the test mortar. Brick
dust (c) Foundry sand
Mortar
prisms were prepared using bricks with compressive value
of 5.88 MPa and having height to width ratio of 1.86.
Avg. Compressive Strength
of Brick Prisms(N/mm2) at
28th Days
Mortar
Mix
1:4
1:6
Figure : Failure pattern of Brick prisms

th

(D) Shear Bond Strength Test on Brick Triplets [5] :

The shear characteristics of brick-mortar joint were determined on brick triplet size
240 x 215 x 100 mm were casted using test mortar. Shear stresses develop in
between the mortar and the masonry unit contact planes as shown in figure. Shear
bond strength (N/mm2) = P/2A, Where, P = Vertical compressive load (N), A= c/s
area of middle brick.

Table : Fresh Properties of Mortar

Mortar Mix M1

Fine Aggregates

Figure: 28 Days Comp. strength of cubes

VS Fine aggregates for Mortar Mix 1:6

th

Reference to Method of
Test

2.16
2.58
14.35
2.4
Nil

0%
25%
50%

Fine Aggregates

3. TEST AND RESULTS

(A) Physical Properties of Fine Aggregates :
Sr.
No

Compressive Strength of Cubes (N/mm2)

M1

M2

M3

M4

M5

1.08 1.2

1.11

0.6 0.65 0.64

0.91
0.63

0.76
0.55

4. CONCLUSIONS
Mortar mixture thus prepared by replacing 25% and 50% of Natural river sand with
Quarry dust & Foundry sand, is found to be workable.The values of water retentivity
for the mixes are also acceptable and are above 70 %.
For 1:4 and 1:6 mortar mix; At 28th days, Compressive strength of Mortar cubes,
Compressive strength of Brick prisms, Bond strength of prisms in Shear and Flexure
for the mortar mixture prepared using Quarry dust (25%) and Foundry sand (25%)
respectively with Natural Sand and Cement were found to be higher in comparison to
the mortar prepared using Natural river sand and Cement.
The failure pattern in Compressive strength of brick prism indicates that the crack
appears in the brick and not in the mortar joint which proves the efficacy of the
mortar.
5. REFERENCES
[1] IS: 2386-1963, (Part I and Part III) Indian Standards methods of test for
aggregate for concrete, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
[2] IS: 2386-1963, (Part I and Part III) Indian Standards methods of test for
aggregate for concrete, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India.
[3] IS: 22501981 (Reaffirmed 2000) Indian Standard code of practice for
Preparation and use of masonry mortars (First revision), Bureau of Indian Standards.
[4] IS: 1905-1987 (Reaffirmed 2002) Indian Standard code of practice for structural
use of unreinforced masonry (Third revision), Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
[5] C. Freeda Christy, Bond Strength of The Brick Masonry, Tamilnadu, India.
[6] S. Pava, Flexural bond strength of natural hydraulic lime mortar and brick,
Ireland.