| dc.description.abstract | Concrete is a composite material consisting of cement, sand, and coarse aggregates, commonly
used in reinforced cement concrete (R.C.C) and plain cement concrete (P.C.C) works. This study
presents an experimental analysis of the effects of different water-cement (W/C) ratios on the
compressive strength of concrete using various types of coarse aggregates. A total of 36 concrete
cylinders (4 in. × 8 in.) were prepared using two types of coarse aggregates—crushed local stone
chips and pea gravel—and three different water-cement ratios: 0.40, 0.45, and 0.50. Ordinary
Portland Cement (OPC) and Sylhet sand were used in all mixes to maintain consistency. The
specimens were cast, cured, and tested at 7-day and 28-day intervals to assess the influence of
water-cement ratio on strength development. Mixing and curing were done using potable water
under controlled conditions. The key parameters of this study include variation in W/C ratio and
type of coarse aggregate used. Results showed that a lower water-cement ratio (0.40) generally
produced higher compressive strength, especially when combined with crushed stone chips, while
pea gravel yielded comparatively lower strengths at all W/C ratios. The study highlights that both
the type of aggregate and the water-cement ratio significantly affect the strength characteristics
of concrete. Hence, determining the effective W/C ratio is crucial for optimizing concrete
performance, ensuring durability, and maintaining quality control in construction practices | en_US |
