The evaluation of engineering properties of some selected aggregates in south western Nigeria for concrete production

The study was carried out to assess the suitability of sand available in South Western Nigeria for concrete production. Collected samples of sand were  tested in the laboratory to determine their physical properties. The properties considered are gradation, specific gravity, water absorption, moisture  content, bulking, and percentage silt content. The result of the sieve analysis indicates that while the gradation of some of the samples is within the  specified values specified in standards, others do not conform. The values of the coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of curvature is between the  range of 3.6 – 10 and 0.53 – 2.56 respectively. The values of the results of specific gravity, water absorption, the moisture content are within the range of  2.67 – 2.86, 0.67% – 2.04%, 0.75% – 3.17% respectively. Based on the fact that the result of the test on the properties of the samples tested are in  accordance with the specifications in relevant codes as discussed in the body of this work, it can be concluded that most of the samples are suitable for  concrete production while the gradation of some of the samples needed to be modified to conform to the required grading.