Sawdust as Sand Filler Replacement in Concrete

This study investigated sawdust waste as a partial replacement for sand as fine aggregates in producing lightweight sawdust concrete (SC). In Malaysia, sawmills create a considerable amount of wood waste, which has caused environmental issues as it is turned into burning materials. This investigation used sawdust to substitute river sand in the concrete mix proportions of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight. The impact of compressive strength, workability, and density was investigated by changing the amount of sand replacement with sawdust. Concrete cubes of 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm were produced for compressive strength tests. The compressive strength was measured after 7, 14, and 28 days of cure. Furthermore, the strength and density of conventional concrete and sawdust concrete were examined. The study's findings demonstrated increased sawdust content in concrete decreased compressive strength and density. According to the findings of the experiments, the optimal sawdust content is found to be 5%, with the highest strength of 17.2 MPa after 28 days. As a consequence of the results and observations, sawdust concrete may be used for lightweight structural applications.KeywordsSawdust wasteFine aggregatesConcreteCompressive strengthDensity