Mechanical Properties of Concrete after Replacing Sand Utilizing Fine Aggregates of Brick Powder

Abstract

Infrastructure and urbanization drive the increasing demand for concrete, which strains natural resources and threatens the ecosystem. Incorporating recycled materials into concrete can fulfill this demand without compromising quality. This study therefore examines the mechanical properties of concrete after replacing sand utilizing fine aggregates of brick powder (BP) using appropriate standard techniques of destructive and non-destructive testing methods. Concrete mixtures were developed by incrementally substituting sand with brick powder in ratios from 5% to 25% and evaluated for workability, compressive strength, and split tensile strength in comparison to conventional concrete. The findings indicate that replacing 10% sand with brick powder improves strength by 29.94%, reduces workability by 42.66%, and increases split tensile strength by 8.74%. A strong link was found between compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and rebound number, which was confirmed by regression analysis. Integrating 10% brick powder improves concrete's mechanical properties and promotes sustainable construction practices.