V3I7P84

Mechanical Performance of High-Performance Concrete with Artificial Sand Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes and Steel Fibers

SK Kamran Afsar¹  SK Abdul Karim^1*,  A. B. Vawhale²  , S. P. Sharma³

Abstract

The depletion of natural river sand has increased the use of artificial sand (AS) as a sustainable alternative in high-performance concrete (HPC). However, the limestone powder present in AS may reduce its mechanical performance. This study investigates the combined effect of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and Steel Fibers (SF) on the strength properties of HPC containing 100% artificial sand. CNTs were incorporated at 1%, 2%, and 3% by weight of cement, while steel fibers were maintained at 5%. Ultrasonic dispersion with a surfactant was used to ensure uniform CNT distribution. Experimental results showed that hybrid reinforcement significantly enhanced compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths. The 2% CNT mixture exhibited the best overall performance, whereas 3% CNT reduced workability due to agglomeration. The findings demonstrate that CNT–SF hybrid reinforcement effectively improves the strength and sustainability of artificial sand concrete.

Keywords:

HPC, CNT, Strength, Mortar, Concrete