Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregates with Foundry Sand in Concrete

This paper describes utilization of foundry sand, a waste material, which causes environmental problems due to its disposal. Foundry sand consists primarily of silica sand, coated with a thin film of burnt carbon and residual binder. If foundry sand can be used as a construction material by partially substituting for fine aggregates, it can help to address its disposal issues and enhance fine aggregate sustainability. Foundry sand can be used in concrete to improve its strength and other durability factors. Fine aggregate, was partially replaced by foundry sand in M-20 concrete and found that the compressive strength decreases with increase in foundry sand up to 20% of replacement and there after increases with the least value obtained nearly equal to the desired minimum compressive strength for M-20 concrete. The split tensile strength increases with increase in percentage of foundry sand replacing fine aggregates.