Comparison of natural and manufactured fine aggregates in cement mortars

The performance of cement mortars using manufactured fine aggregates produced by cone crushing or impact crushing has been compared to that of mortars prepared from a natural sand control-sample. Samples from both crusher products have been additionally subjected to classification for partial removal of fines, being also used in preparing mortars. Particle shape analyses indicated that material produced by impact crushing presented intermediate sphericity and aspect ratio, between those found in natural fine aggregate and cone-crushed material, and that the aspect ratio of the cone-crushed material increased for finer particle sizes. The unclassified impact crusher product presented the highest packing density, and mortars produced from it had comparatively low porosity and low absorptivity and the highest unconfined compressive strength. The classified product from cone crushing presented low packing density and mortars were characterized by the highest porosities, absorptivities and lowest unconfined compressive strength, probably mostly due to its poor particle shapes. Modeling of the stress–strain response with scalar damage mechanics showed that manufactured aggregate produced from classification of the cone crusher yielded a mortar with highly inelastic deformation response, whereas mortars produced from unclassified product of impact crushing showed more elastic deformation response. Results were also analyzed in light of de Larrard's Compressible Packing Model.