The use of crushed sand (artificial sand) for the production of Portland cement concrete can be an alternative, considering the high cost of natural sand in some regions of the State of the Rio Grande do Sul and the environment damages that its exploration can cause. This work presents a study on the viability of sand use from basaltic rock crushing, from the region of the medium plateau in the State of the Rio Grande do Sul, replacing natural quartz sand. Compressive strength and water absorption tests has been carried out in concretes produced with different mix proportioning and different crushed sand content (0%, 30%, 60% and 100%). The result has showed a reduction in the compressive strength and an increase in water absorption with the increase of artificial sand content, considering the greater amount of water required. At a same level of strength, the use of crushed sand has shown good results. Concrete with water/cement ratios of 0.55 and 0.60 with a crushed sand content of 60% and concrete with a water/cement ratio 0,65 with crushed content of 100% have presented favorable results for compressive strength.
Crushed sand; concrete; fine aggregate
