Indonesian National Standard for Concrete

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 16 views

Comparison of Concrete Mechanical Properties in Sand and Gravel from USU Tambunan and Bahorok District Trial Plantations

Introduction

Indonesia, as a developing country, has experienced rapid development in various regions, leading to an increased need for construction materials, particularly concrete. In Langkat Regency, there are numerous sources of sand and gravel materials, one of which comes from Bahorok District. Material from this area has been commonly used as a concrete mixed aggregate in North Sumatra and is known to have good quality. However, the use of sand and gravel from the USU Tambunan trial plantation as an aggregate of concrete mixture has never been investigated in depth.

Background

The use of high-quality aggregates is crucial in producing durable and safe concrete structures. Aggregates, such as sand and gravel, play a significant role in determining the mechanical properties of concrete. In this study, we aim to compare the quality of sand and gravel taken from the USU Tambunan experimental plantation with those from Bahorok District. The main focus of this study is to observe the influence of the two types of aggregates on concrete mechanical properties, including compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexible strength on the same concrete characteristics, namely FC 21 MPa.

Methodology

This study employed a comparative analysis of the mechanical properties of concrete produced using sand and gravel from the USU Tambunan experimental plantation and Bahorok District trial plantations. The concrete mix design was kept constant, with a target compressive strength of 21 MPa. The aggregates were collected from the two locations and subjected to various tests, including absorption, mud content, and mechanical strength tests.

Results

The results showed that sand from both locations, namely the Tambunan USU and Bahorok District trial plantations, met the standards set and feasible to be used as a concrete mixture. However, there are significant differences in gravel quality. Gravel originating from the USU Tambunan Experimental Plantation has an absorption value and mud content that exceeds the standard limit, while the gravel from Bahorok District also shows high mud content, exceeding the permitted limits.

In terms of mechanical strength, concrete that uses sand and gravel from these two sources can exceed the planned concrete characteristics, namely FC 21 MPa. However, the concrete produced from the aggregate taken from the Bahorok District has a higher compressive, tug-of-force force compared to concrete that uses aggregates from the USU Tambunan trial plantation.

Discussion

Analysis of the results of this study shows that although both types of aggregates show good performance, gravel originating from Bahorok District has an advantage in terms of concrete mechanical properties. This may be caused by the composition of mineralogy and more optimal grain size that the gravel has from Bahorok District, makes it more effective in providing structural support needed in concrete.

Conclusion

This research is important to provide insight for construction industry players in North Sumatra in choosing the right raw materials to improve the quality of concrete. With this information, engineers and contractors can make better decisions in the use of the right aggregate, which in turn will increase the durability and safety of the building structure produced.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

The use of gravel from Bahorok District as an aggregate in concrete mixture is recommended due to its superior mechanical properties.
Further research is needed to investigate the effects of different aggregate compositions on concrete mechanical properties.
The development of a quality control system for aggregates is essential to ensure the consistency and quality of concrete produced.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

The study only compared the mechanical properties of concrete produced using sand and gravel from two locations.
The study did not investigate the effects of other factors, such as cement type and admixture, on concrete mechanical properties.
The study only considered the compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexible strength of concrete.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on investigating the effects of different aggregate compositions on concrete mechanical properties. Additionally, the development of a quality control system for aggregates is essential to ensure the consistency and quality of concrete produced.

References

[1] Indonesian National Standard for Concrete. (2018). Indonesian National Standard for Concrete.
[2] ASTM C33/C33M-18. (2018). Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates.
[3] BS EN 12620:2013. (2013). Aggregates for concrete.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Comparison of Concrete Mechanical Properties in Sand and Gravel from USU Tambunan and Bahorok District Trial Plantations

Q: What is the main objective of this study?

A: The main objective of this study is to compare the quality of sand and gravel taken from the USU Tambunan experimental plantation with those from Bahorok District, and to observe the influence of the two types of aggregates on concrete mechanical properties.

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

A: The key findings of this study are that sand from both locations met the standards set and feasible to be used as a concrete mixture, but there are significant differences in gravel quality. Gravel originating from the USU Tambunan Experimental Plantation has an absorption value and mud content that exceeds the standard limit, while the gravel from Bahorok District also shows high mud content, exceeding the permitted limits.

Q: What are the implications of this study for the construction industry?

A: The implications of this study for the construction industry are that the use of gravel from Bahorok District as an aggregate in concrete mixture is recommended due to its superior mechanical properties. This can lead to the production of more durable and safe concrete structures.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study are that it only compared the mechanical properties of concrete produced using sand and gravel from two locations, and did not investigate the effects of other factors, such as cement type and admixture, on concrete mechanical properties.

Q: What are the future research directions based on this study?

A: The future research directions based on this study are to investigate the effects of different aggregate compositions on concrete mechanical properties, and to develop a quality control system for aggregates to ensure the consistency and quality of concrete produced.

Q: What are the practical applications of this study?

A: The practical applications of this study are that it can provide insight for construction industry players in North Sumatra in choosing the right raw materials to improve the quality of concrete, and can help engineers and contractors make better decisions in the use of the right aggregate.

Q: What are the potential benefits of using gravel from Bahorok District as an aggregate in concrete mixture?

A: The potential benefits of using gravel from Bahorok District as an aggregate in concrete mixture are that it can lead to the production of more durable and safe concrete structures, and can reduce the risk of concrete failure.

Q: What are the potential risks of using gravel from USU Tambunan Experimental Plantation as an aggregate in concrete mixture?

A: The potential risks of using gravel from USU Tambunan Experimental Plantation as an aggregate in concrete mixture are that it may lead to the production of concrete with lower mechanical properties, and may increase the risk of concrete failure.

Q: What are the implications of this study for the environment?

A: The implications of this study for the environment are that the use of gravel from Bahorok District as an aggregate in concrete mixture may have a lower environmental impact compared to the use of gravel from USU Tambunan Experimental Plantation.

Q: What are the implications of this study for the economy?

A: The implications of this study for the economy are that the use of gravel from Bahorok District as an aggregate in concrete mixture may lead to cost savings and increased efficiency in the construction industry.

Q: What are the implications of this study for the society?

A: The implications of this study for the society are that it can lead to the production of more durable and safe concrete structures, which can improve the quality of life for people living in buildings and structures made of concrete.