Enhancing the Strength and Durability of Concrete with Integration of Manufactured Sand as a Fine Aggregate

The rapid growth of construction activities has increased the demand for natural river sand as a fine aggregate in concrete, resulting in resource depletion, environmental degradation, and increasing material costs. Manufactured sand (M-sand) are alternative fine aggregates that can reduce dependence on natural river sand while providing an opportunity for beneficial utilization of quarrying by-products. This review examines the influence of M-sand and rock quarry dust on the fresh, mechanical, and durability properties of concrete, The literature indicates that the angular shape, rough surface texture, particle-size distribution, and fines content of M-sand significantly influence workability, strength, and internal packing of concrete. Similarly, quarry dust can improve particle packing and mechanical strength at moderate replacement levels, although excessive fines may reduce workability and adversely affect some durability-related properties. Recent studies have reported improved compressive, tensile, and durability performance at optimized replacement levels, while excessive replacement can lead to higher water demand and reduced workability. The combined utilization of M-sand and quarry dust has potential to produce more resource-efficient concrete by improving aggregate packing and diverting quarry waste from disposal. However, the optimum proportion depends on aggregate mineralogy, grading, fines content, water-to-cement ratio, admixture dosage, and concrete grade. Further research is required on long-term durability, field performance, life-cycle assessment, and optimized hybrid proportions of M-sand and quarry dust.