Elastic Properties of Concrete Incorporating Ogugu Lateritic Sand as Fine Aggregate

ABSTRACT Concrete's performance, particularly its elastic and structural properties, is significantly influenced by the nature of its constituent materials. This study evaluates the effect of substituting conventional fine aggregate with Ogugu lateritic sand in concrete grades 25 and 50, focusing on its elastic behaviour and strength development. Concrete specimens were produced using 100% lateritic sand as fine aggregate and tested in accordance with international standards. Results indicate that laterized concrete (LCC) shows progressive strength gains over time. For grade 25 concrete, compressive strength increased from 14.11N/mm 2 at 3 days to 32.27N/mm 2 at 91days, while flexural strength rose from 3.16N/mm 2 to 4.69N/mm 2 . Grade 50 LCC demonstrated compressive strength growth from 20.36N/mm 2 to 47.94N/mm 2 and flexural strength from 4.19N/mm 2 to 5.61N/mm 2 within the same curing period. The Poisson's ratio remained at 0.25, indicating moderate lateral deformation under axial load. These mechanical improvements are attributed to the favourable characteristics of lateritic sand, including particle shape, gradation, and mineralogy. While LCC exhibits slightly lower performance than conventional concrete (CC), it maintains sufficient structural integrity for construction applications. The findings establish that Ogugu lateritic sand is a viable, sustainable, and cost‐effective fine aggregate alternative, especially in laterite‐abundant regions, with the added benefit of reducing environmental impact.