EFFECT ON PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE PAVERS USING DAM SILT AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF FINE AGGREGATE

Abstract

Siltation is continuously affecting our drinking water and water storage facilities. The settlement of silt, over
the years, has resulted in a decrease in the storage capacities of dams. Removal of silt from such facilities involves huge
cost and environmental issues and a real challenge for developing countries such as Pakistan. However fruitful
utilization of such silt after its removal can help to recover such costs and minimize environmental concerns. Concrete
paver block is one of the possible options for the utilization of silt as a replacement of fine aggregate. Initially, such
paver blocks were developed in 1950,s as a substitute for paver bricks. However, the effect of such replacement has not
been studied yet. This research is an effort to cover that gap. The research is based on the experimental study which was
carried out to utilize dam silt in concrete pavers as partial replacement of fine aggregate from 0%- 40% by volume of
fine aggregate in high strength concrete (M55 Grade). A total of 180 concrete paver blocks were casted with different
proportions of dam silts from three different dams of Pakistan, in the province situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, namely,
Tarbela Dam, Warsak Dam & Tanda Dam. The compressive strength values of these blocks were evaluated. The highest
compressive strength of 8000 psi > was obtained at 10% replacement of F.A with Tarbela Dam silt, 30% for Warsak
dam silt, and at 20% on Tanda Dam silt. The difference in the values of compressive strength also depends upon the
chemical composition of the silts. It was concluded that dam silt can be replaced with fine aggregate in concrete pavers
as their results were found satisfactory and were according to ASTM Standards