ABSTRACT
The self-weight of the structures consist major portion of their overall weight. The use
Of lightweight concrete not only reduces the weight but also results in the reduction in
the sections of the structural elements resulting in the economy. The concrete without
fine aggregates is termed as 'no-fines concrete', which is one of the types of the light
weight concrete family. Normally no-fines concrete (NFC) is produced with the coarse
aggregate of uniform gradation. This experimental study is focused to use the coarse
aggregate of different gradation in no-fines concrete. The effect of the coarse aggregate
gradation is studied in terms of compressive strength and tensile strength of NFC. A fixed
cement- to-aggregate proportion 1:6 is adopted during this study. in all 10 gradations of
the caosrse aggregates ranging between pacific maximum and minmum size are used
i.e, 7mm-4.75mm, 10mm-4.75mm, 10mm-7mm, 13mm- 4.75mm, 13mm-7mm, 13mm-10mm,
20mm-4.75mm, 20mm-7mm, 20mm-10mm, 20mm-13mm. The water-cement ratio
is maintained at fixed value 0.40 throughout the study. The cube and cylinder specimens
of standard sizes are cast to determine compressive strength and tensile strength
(cylinder splitting) respectively. Entire the specimens are cured in water up to the age of
testing (28 days). The results of the study reveal the substantial effect of the gradation
of coarse aggregates on strength properties (compressive and tensile strength) of no-fines
concrete.