Study of the effects of cogrinding of sand and clinker on the properties of sandcrete

Mineral additions can be mixed with the clinker before the grinding process. Thus, one obtains a 'coground' binder which can allow some reduction in the cement ratio. Some dune sand is added, in variable proportions, to the clinker, such as to obtain a coground binder from which different sandcrete mixes are defined. To distinguish the effects of the binder fineness from those of the addition ratio, a two-stage experimental design process has been followed. In a first stage, the fineness of the coground binder has been quantified. Thereafter, the influence of several parameters (fineness, addition ratio, water/binder ratio) on the mechanical properties has been evaluated and modelled. The degree of activity of the mineral additions has been confirmed. It can lead to some gain in the cement content.