A STUDY ON THE PROPERTIES AND USABILITY OF THE SAND FOUND IN

LAKE DANAO, SAN FRANCISCO, CAMOTES ISLANDS

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Civil Engineering

Cebu Institute of Technology – University

Cebu City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Degree

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

By

Bernardino J. Culanag Jr.

Chris Gordon T. Kilat

Jeremias Y. Marquez Jr.

Karlo Dominic V. Solatorio

Mark C. Puaben
 APPROVAL SHEET

This thesis is entitled, “A STUDY ON THE PROPERTIES AND USABILITY

OF THE SAND FOUND IN LAKE DANAO, SAN FRANCISCO, CAMOTES
ISLANDS”, prepared and submitted by Jeremias Y. Marquez Jr., Karlo Dominic V.
Solatorio, Mark C. Puaben, Bernardino J. Culanag Jr., and Chris Gordon T. Kilat in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING is hereby recommended for approval.

____________________
Adviser
Date: ________________

______________ _______________
Member Member
Date: __________ Date: ___________

____________________
Member

Date: ________________

This thesis is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree
of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING.

__________________ __________________
Thesis Coordinator Chair, Department of
Civil Engineering
Date: ______________
Date: _____________

_____________________________________
Dean, College of Engineering and Architecture

Date: ____________________
 Table of Contents
Page
Acknowledgment iii
Abstract iv
List of Table v
List of Figures vi

Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Rationale of the Study 2
1.2 Statement of the Problem 2
1.3 Significance of the Study 2
1.4 Scope and Delimitations of the Study 3
1.5 Definition of Terms 3
Chapter 2 Theoretical Background 5

2.1 Review of Related Literature 5

Chapter 3 Methodology 7
3.1 Conceptual Framework 7
3.2 Determination of the Properties of Aggregates 8
3.3 Raw Material Tests 8
3.3.1 Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregate 8
(ASTM C136)
3.3.2 Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and 9
Absorption of Fine Aggregates (ASTM C128)
3.3.3 Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and 10
Absorption of Coarse Aggregates (ASTM C127)
3.3.4 Bulk Density and Voids in Aggregate (ASTM C29) 11
3.4 Plain Portland Cement Concrete Cylinder Casting and 12
Properties Determination
3.4.1 Making and Curing of Concrete Cylinders (ASTM C31) 12
3.4.2 Compressive Strength of Molded Concrete Cylinders 13
(ASTM C39)
Chapter 4 Results and Discussion 14
4.1 Aggregate Properties Test Results 14
4.1.1 Sieve Analysis Results 14
4.1.2 Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity),
and Absorption of Fine Aggregates Results 17
4.1.3 Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity) and 18
Absorption of Coarse Aggregates
4.1.4 Bulk Density (Unit Weight) and Voids in Aggregates 19
4.2 Concrete Properties Test Results 20
4.2.1 Fresh Concrete Slump Test Result 20
4.2.2 Density of Concrete Samples 20
4.2.3 Concrete Compressive Strength Test Result 21

CHAPTER 5 Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1Conclusions 25
5.2Recommendations 25

Bibliography

APPENDIX A
Aggregate Sample 28
Concrete Sample Casting 29
Concrete Sample Curing 30
Concrete Cylinder Compressive Strength Testing 31

APPENDIX B 32
APPENDIX C 33
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study would not be possible without the guidance and the help of several
individuals who in their own way contributed in making this study.

To our adviser, Engr. Ma. Victoria Yazar, for her guidance and sincerity in
helping us complete this study. Her positive attitude inspired us as we overcome the
obstacles encountered in this research work.

To Mr. Carlos Cena, laboratory assistant of the Civil Engineering Department,

for letting us use the Civil Engineering Laboratory and its instruments during the
experiments and testing of the specimen.

To our beloved parents for their care, love and support.

And most importantly, to the almighty God who reigns and guides us from above.
 ABSTRACT

Utilizing locally available materials for construction purposes is an advantage both for
the owner and the contractor of the project. The locally available material usually
utilized for construction are the aggregates for concrete. For a long time up to the
present, Cebu’s major local source of aggregates are rivers. River aggregates showed
acceptable behavior in concrete construction but the continued use of river aggregates
pose problems with respect to its availability and cost. Builders in Camotes Islands in
northern Cebu face those problems. Currently, hardware owners and suppliers in the
island import aggregates from mainland Cebu and the difficulty in its transportation
made its availability inconsistent and price higher. The researchers investigated the
Lake sand found in Lake Danao in San Francisco town in aim to solve those problems.
Laboratory experiments were first done to know the values of the basic physical
properties of the lake sand. Tests included bulk density (unit weight), density, relative
density (specific gravity), absorption, percent voids, and grading determination.
Properties determination is essential since its values are usually included in
calculations relating to its applicability. The material was found to have a lower density
and specific gravity values as compared with the commonly used river sand and
therefore concluded as lighter than the river sand. In the usability study, nine cylindrical
concrete samples were made for concrete compressive test determination in three
different curing periods. Another nine cylindrical concrete samples with the same
materials and mix proportion but with the river sand as the fine aggregate were also
made for the purpose of comparison of properties. Compressive strength test results
showed that the concrete with river sand achieved the target strength after 28 days
but the concrete with the lake sand as fine aggregate turned to be weaker and did not
achieved the target 28-day compressive strength. The researchers therefore
concluded that the lake sand is not appropriate to be a substitute for the conventional
river sand as fine aggregate in concrete. The researchers recommended that the lake
sand should not be used in structural concrete and further recommend that future
studies applying the lake sand in mortar and in other non-critical products that uses
fine aggregates like hollow block be made.
 LIST OF TABLE
NO. OF TABLES TITLE PAGE

4.1 Aggregate Properties Test Results 14

4.2 Lake Sand Sieve Analysis Test Result 15

4.3 River Sand Sieve Analysis Test Result 15

4.4 Concrete Properties Summary 20

4.5. Fresh Concrete Slump Test Result 20

4.6 Density of Hardened Concrete 20

4.7 7-Days Curing Concrete Compressive Test Result 21

4.8 14-Days Curing Concrete Compressive Strength 22

Test Result

4.9 28-Days Curing Concrete Compressive Test 23

Result
 LIST OF FIGURE
NO. OF TITLE PAGE
FIGURES

4.1 Lake Particle Size Distribution 16

4.2 River Sand Particle Size Distribution 16

7 Days Curing Concrete Compressive

4.3 21
Strength Test Result

14 Days Curing Concrete Compressive

4.4 22
Strength Test Result

28 Days Curing Concrete Compressive

4.5 23
Strength Test Results

Averages Of Concrete Compressive Strength

4.6
Test Results