Artificial Sand: Properties, Applications, and Future Implications

Abstract

Artificial sand, or manufactured sand, has emerged as an alternative to natural sand due to the depletion of natural sand resources and environmental concerns. The scarcity of natural sand due to such heavy demands in growing construction activities have forced to find the suitable substitute. This paper explores the properties, manufacturing processes, applications, advantages, and challenges associated with artificial sand, aiming to highlight its potential in sustainable construction. The promotional use of artificial sand will conserve the natural resources for the sustainable development of the concrete in construction industry.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

Sand is a crucial component in construction, used primarily for concrete, mortar, and other structural applications. However, the extraction of natural sand has led to significant environmental issues, including riverbank erosion, habitat destruction, and depletion of resources. This scenario has spurred interest in artificial sand as a sustainable alternative. Artificial sand, also known as manufactured sand (M-sand), is made by crushing rocks or other suitable materials to produce sand-sized particles. This process aims to replicate the properties of natural sand for use in construction while mitigating environmental impacts.

II. OBJECTIVE

The study aims to evaluate the properties, applications, and environmental benefits of artificial sand and its viability as a substitute for natural sand.

III. PROPERTIES OF ARTIFICIAL SAND

A. Material Composition

Artificial sand typically consists of crushed stones, rocks, and minerals such as granite, basalt, or limestone. Its composition is chosen to ensure that the artificial sand exhibits similar or superior performance to natural sand in various applications. Artificial sand is often free from impurities like silt and clay that can compromise the strength and durability of concrete.

B. Physical Characteristics

Compared to natural sand, artificial sand has a more angular and rough texture due to the crushing process. This can improve the bond between sand and cement in concrete, enhancing strength. Other physical properties, such as particle size distribution, bulk density, and specific gravity, are also carefully controlled to meet industry standards.

C. Chemical Stability

Since artificial sand is manufactured in a controlled environment, its chemical composition can be tailored to avoid reactive components that may lead to durability issues. By reducing alkali-reactive minerals, artificial sand is less likely to cause cracking or deterioration in concrete structures over time.

D. Compressive Strength

Compressive strength can be defined as the ability of a substance to bear the maximum compressive stress that occurs when it is subjected to substantial pressure.

E. Flexural Strength

It can be defined as the property of manufactured sand to withstand the flexural test when the material is given a particular amount of stress under specified conditions. It is also known as the material property of artificial sand that gives an estimate of its quality.

F. Impurity Index

 The number of impurities present in a particular substance is measured in the impurity index. It also measures the portability of a specific material in a specified industry.

G. Ability to Absorb Moisture

Another essential physical quality of the artificial sand that is worth praising is its ability to absorb moisture. The ability to absorb moisture is its property to interact with water molecules.

IV. MANUFACTURING PROCESS

A. Primary Materials

Raw materials commonly used for manufacturing artificial sand include quarried rock types like granite, basalt, and limestone. Recycled materials from construction waste, such as crushed concrete, are sometimes incorporated, which supports waste reduction and promotes a circular economy approach.

B. Crushing and Screening

The rocks are crushed in multiple stages to achieve the desired sand-like particle size. Jaw crushers, cone crushers, and impact crushers are typically used in this process, with screens separating particles of different sizes to ensure uniformity.

C. Washing and Grading

Post-crushing, artificial sand is often washed to remove fine dust particles and impurities, which can affect concrete strength. The material is then graded to ensure it meets specific particle size distributions, as specified in construction standards.

D. Sustainability Considerations

To make the manufacturing process more sustainable, water recycling systems and dust suppression technologies are employed. This minimizes water consumption and reduces airborne particles, contributing to an environmentally responsible production process.

FIG. NO.1 Flow Chart of Manufacturing Process of Artificial Sand

There are five Manufacturing process of Artificial Sand:

1. Hammer crusher sand manufacturing
2. Rod mill sand manufacturing
3. VSI crusher sand manufacturing
4. Combination process of vertical shaft impact crusher and rod mil
5. Two-stage VSI crushers

V. APPLICATIONS

A. Concrete Production

Artificial sand is widely used in the production of concrete, particularly for high-strength and self-compacting varieties. Its angular particles improve the bonding with cement, which enhances the compressive and tensile strength of the concrete..

B. Road Construction

Artificial sand is utilized in the construction of pavements, highways, and other infrastructure projects. Its uniformity and durability make it well-suited for applications that require long-lasting materials capable of withstanding heavy traffic.

C. Brick and Block Manufacturing

Many brick and block manufacturers use artificial sand as a substitute for natural sand in their products. Its controlled particle size helps achieve uniformity and strength, resulting in higher-quality bricks and blocks.

D. Other Structural Uses

 Artificial sand is also employed in masonry, plastering, and tiling applications where consistency in material properties is essential for structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.

VI. ADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL SAND

Table No. 1 Comparison of Parameters between M Sand and River Sand

A. Environmental Benefits

By replacing natural sand, artificial sand reduces the environmental degradation caused by sand mining, such as habitat destruction and riverbank erosion. Additionally, using artificial sand can decrease the pressure on natural resources..

B. Consistency in Quality

Natural sand can vary significantly in terms of quality and particle size, depending on its source. Artificial sand, however, is manufactured to precise specifications, which ensures consistency in quality and performance across different construction applications.

C. Enhanced Structural Integrity

The particles shape of artificial sand provides better interlocking between particles in concrete, resulting in improved compressive strength and reduced porosity. This enhances the durability of concrete structures, making them more resistant to environmental stressors.

D. Economic Viability

Although the initial investment for setting up artificial sand production facilities can be high, long-term savings are possible as the costs of natural sand increase. Furthermore, reduced transport costs from regional production facilities can make artificial sand more affordable.

VIII. CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS

A. Initial Setup Costs:

Establishing a plant to produce artificial sand requires a substantial investment in machinery, infrastructure, and skilled labor. Small-scale operations might find these start up costs prohibitive.

B. Public Acceptance and Awareness

Many builders and consumers remain unfamiliar with artificial sand, favouring natural sand for its traditional usage. Education and awareness campaigns are necessary to shift perceptions and encourage adoption of artificial sand.

C. Quality Control

Ensuring consistent quality in artificial sand production can be challenging, especially in large-scale operations. Variability in raw material properties or crushing processes can lead to inconsistencies in the final product, which could impact construction quality.

D. Potential Environmental Issues

While artificial sand reduces the impact on natural sand resources, its production still consumes significant energy and water, contributing to environmental degradation if not managed properly. Sustainable practices are essential to minimize these impacts.  

Conclusion

Artificial sand holds great potential as a sustainable alternative to natural sand in construction. Its advantages in terms of environmental impact, quality consistency, and structural performance make it an attractive solution to the global sand shortage. As the construction industry seeks sustainable solutions, artificial sand could play a vital role, supported by innovations in production technology and regulatory policies. The need for Artificial Sand is keenly felt by the Society, especially by the Construction Industry having the demand for construction and the full swing activities going on and also going by the fast depletion of river sand by both Legal and Illegal mining, the situation will take a worse turn, soon enough, if artificial sand is not used to the maximum extent possible. The particles shape of artificial sand provides better interlocking between particles in concrete, resulting in improved compressive strength and reduced porosity. Now a day it is very essential to testing the strength of concrete before use of it. So builder and contractors are very conscious strength parameters. They are also give the importance to artificial sand. The M sand produced by proper machines can be a better option to river sand. The sand should be sharp, clean and course. The grains should be of durable material and the grain size should be such that it should give minimum voids.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2024 Jayesh Raman Gavit , Mrunali Rajendra Nikume, Mohit Sachin Kothari, Lalit Raosaheb Nandre, Ketan Bhaskar Mali, Prof. D. S. Bedse, Prof. P. R. Badgujar, Prof. N. R. Borase. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.