Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregates by Lathe Waste in Concrete Interlocking Paving Blocks to Improve Desired Structural Characteristics

Turning, milling, drilling, grinding and boring operations using lathe and other types of CNC machines are essential manufacturing processes of most steel or any other alloy related production works. Due to the above operations, considerable amount of waste material, commonly called as “Lathe waste” are generated worldwide. Usually, this waste product is disposed to the environment in an unhealthy manner without an effective usage. As lathe waste consists of considerable amount of steel fibers, there is possibility to improve desired structural characteristics of concrete products by adding this waste product by an appropriate amount. This study has focused on partial replacement of fine aggregates by lathe waste in concrete interlocking paving blocks to improve desired structural characteristics. As interlocking paving blocks may be subjected to flexural and tensile stresses due adverse environmental and operational condition in addition compressive stresses, which usually governs the design, the addition of lathe waste would be highly beneficial. Identification of appropriate mix proportion for partial replacement of fine aggregates in concrete interlocking paving blocks through an experimental study is discussed in this paper.