PSI - Issue 70

R. Ashwathi et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 70 (2025) 698–705

701

The declining graph clearly illustrates that the workability of the mix gets reduced as the percentage of marble gets increased. This makes the compaction difficult. The definitive reason for declining curve is due to its finer particle size which causes increased cohesion and resistance against flow. 3.3. Vee-Bee Consistometer Test The need of Vee Bee consistency test is to determine the time taken by the freshly prepared concrete to compact completely under vibration (Li and Unluer, 2023). The greater the time taken to compact, the lower is the workability. The compaction factor of concrete with different mixes of marble powder is shown in the Fig. 3.c. The inclining graph clearly illustrates that the workability of the mix gets reduced as the percentage of marble gets increased. The mix gets stiffer and difficult to compact and place with higher percentage of replacement.

Fig. 3.a Slump Test

Fig. 3.b. Compaction Factor Test

Fig. 3.c. Vee-Bee Consistometer Test

There is always a direct relationship between quantity of water and the degree of workability. At the same time, there lies an inverse relationship between workability and durability. It is essential to attain durability with ease of work. However, the workability can be achieved without compromising the durability properties by adding necessary water reducing admixtures in the appropriate percentage to cement (Bhole, 2014). 4. Mechanical Properties of Concrete The mechanical properties provide insights into the material’s ability to withstand various types of stresses encountered during its life. Hence, it becomes a critical factor in evaluating the structural integrity and suitability for various applications (Ravikumar et al., 2023). The tests are carried in accordance with IS 516:2018 and IS 5816:1999. The specimen preparation and test set up is shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. Specimen preparation and Experimental setup