EFFECT OF SALT WATER IN THE PRODUCTION OF CONCRETE

Abstract

In this research work, the effect of salt water in the production of concrete was investigated. A total of ninety (90) concrete cubes were cast for compression strength test i.e. forty five cubes were cast using fresh water and the other forty five cubes were also cast using salt water. Similarly, a total of ninety (90) concrete beams were cast for flexural strength test i.e. forty five beams were cast using fresh water and the other forty five beams were also cast using salt water. The concrete cubes and the beams were cured at 7,21,28,60 and 90 days respectively. The result of the average compressive strength of concrete obtained using fresh water  of mix ratio (1:1.51:4.01), water cement ratio (0.47) ranges from 27.35-42.34N/mm² while that of salt water ranges from 25.24-38.81N/mm² for the hydration period of 7,21,28,60 and 90 days. The flexural strength of concrete obtained using fresh water of the same mix ratio and water cement ratio ranges from 6.60 – 11.20N/mm² for 7,21,28,60 and 90 days hydration period while that of salt water ranges from 5.98-11.04N/mm² for the same hydration period. For the mix ratio (1:1.61:4.03) and water cement ratio (0.55), the average compressive strength of concrete obtained using fresh and salt water ranges from 27.26-40.80N/mm² and 24.68 – 39.13N/mm² respectively while the flexural strength ranges from 6.55-11.13N/mm² and 6.26-10.76N/mm² for fresh and salt water respectively. For the mix ratio (1:1.66:4.24) and water cement ratio (0.50), the average compressive strength of concrete obtained using fresh and salt water ranges from 25.05 -38.13N/mm² and 23.58-36.03N/mm² respectively while the flexural strength ranges from 6.18-9.88N/mm² and 6.15 – 10.39N/mm² for fresh and salt water respectively. The initial and final setting time of cement using fresh water is 50mins and 587mins while that of salt water is 55mins and 605mins respectively.