Unlocking the Potential of Caribbean Coarse Aggregates for High-Strength Concrete Development

High-strength concretes (HSCs) are becoming increasingly important in modern construction, due to their ability to withstand high loads and reduce the size of structural elements. This study focuses on designing HSC mixes using materials readily available in the Colombian Caribbean region. The research involved preparing mixes with varying water-cement ratios (0.21 to 0.28) and incorporating a superplasticizer additive to maintain workability. The study evaluated the compressive strength gain of these mixes at different ages (14, 21, and 28 days). The results demonstrate that the materials available in the region, including the coarse aggregates and cement type, are suitable for producing HSC mixes with compressive strengths ranging from 55 to 84 MPa. Notably, the marble granite aggregate exhibited the best performance, achieving the highest compressive strength (84 MPa) with a water-cement ratio of 0.23. This mix also displayed favorable mechanical properties, with a modulus of elasticity of 36,000 MPa and a Poisson's ratio of 0.26. These findings provide valuable insights for the development and application of HSC in the Colombian Caribbean region.