CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION
Construction nowadays is very rampant due to economic growth and development.
Structures like bridges, ports, docks, dams, highways and roads, buildings and all other
infrastructure of civil engineers plays its vital role as the builder in society.
Materials have been the issue of every construction to ensure the strength of the
structure. Concrete as the major part of it, takes several experiment to meet its
requirements.
Concrete is a stone like material obtained by designing a carefully proportioned
mixture of cement, sand, and gravel or other aggregates and water to harden in forms of
the shape and dimensions of the desired structure. One of the important constituents in
concrete is the aggregate, which has a great effect in strength development. Although
strength depends upon many parameters such as water/concrete ratio, aggregate
gradation, aggregate size and shape, cement quality, mixing time, mix ratio, curing etc.,
but this study has concentrated only on the comparative performance of concrete mix
design using rounded and crushed stone.
An aggregate like gravel has two options and it depends on the availability of the
source of the materials in a certain area where construction is to be done. That means,
an alternative way of materials is to be used if one is unavailable. These are the rounded
gravel and the crushed gravel. The crushed gravel is created by mining a suitable rock
formation and then breaking down the rock to varying sizes using a crusher while
rounded gravel has a more rounded shape and is made by the natural processes of
weathering and erosion. Both materials can be used as an aggregate as long as they will
meet what is required in a certain project.

Our study is now further to determine the effects of the two sample aggregates in
a concrete by finding its water absorption, its sizes and all other necessary details that
will completely differentiate the two.This will be conducted in a laboratory. Sampling will
be done in seven days, fourteen days and twenty-eight days of curing before it will test.
It is very important to identify what type of materials to be used to avoid failure of
construction that might cause deficiency because some construction requires a higher
compressive strength like mega structures and roadways, and some are not. It only
means good quality of materials is recommended.

A. Background of the Study

Concrete is composing of coarse aggregate, water, sand and cement. Since
coarse aggregate can be classified as crushed and round gravel, this study has
concentrated only on the comparative performance of concrete mix design using
rounded and crushed stone. Many researches said that the crushed aggregate was
known to be the best material when using it in terms of making a concrete because of
the shape and its texture that has the ability to collide with the other particles of
cement, sand and water.
This study aims to uplift the learning of the reader by understanding the
characteristic differences of the two coarse aggregates. The two coarse aggregate;
round and crushed gravel, will be test differently with its field of experiments.

B. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the compressive strengthand the physical properties
of the concrete when using the rounded or crushed gravel as a coarse aggregate and

to compare which of these two samples have the higher compressive strength. An
alternative solution will be considered upon the unavailability of source.
The concrete mix design has a ratio of 1:2:3 in terms of weight for both crushed
and rounded gravel as a coarse aggregate.

C. Statement of the Hypothesis

If the two concrete mix designs; the crushed gravel and rounded gravel are used
as coarse aggregate having the same ratio, a difference in compressive strength,
water absorption, density, gradation and specific gravity is expected.
D. Significance of the Study

This aims to give an idea to what type of coarse aggregates can be used in a
construction that is economical and safe.

This study gives us an idea about the physical and mechanical properties of the
concrete using crushed and rounded gravel as a coarse aggregate

This can be used as a reference and guide of the incoming researcher in the field
of Civil Engineering in accordance of coarse aggregates.

E. Scope and Limitation

a. Scope
The study aims to compare the physical and mechanical properties of the
concrete using crushed and rounded gravel as a coarse aggregate.
b. Limitation

In terms of physical properties; the abrasion test, sieve analysis, water

absorption, density and specific gravity, and the mechanical properties; the
compressive strength test, will be conducted and analyze in a laboratory. Small error
is expected while doing these experiments.

F. Research Objectives

To compare and investigate the mechanical properties in terms of compressive

strength between rounded and crushed gravel in concrete.

To investigate the physical properties of crushed and rounded gravel in terms of

abrasive strength, gradation, water absorption, density and specific gravity.

To determine of which of the 7, 14, or 28 days of curing has the greatest

compressive strength for both crushed and rounded gravel.