Article
Evaluation of Crushed Basaltic Rocks as Coarse Aggregate, at Selected Site South Sana’a, Yemen: Properties and Concrete Performance
Sana’a City has experienced rapid urban expansion, increasing the demand for high-quality construction materials. This study presents the first systematic engineering evaluation of crushed basaltic rocks from a selected economically significant site south of Sana’a, Yemen, assessing their suitability as coarse aggregate for concrete production. Comprehensive laboratory investigations were conducted, including chemical (XRF), physical, and mechanical tests in accordance with international standards. The basaltic aggregates exhibited excellent engineering properties, with low Aggregate Impact Value (AIV ≈ 8.96%), low Los Angeles Abrasion Value (LAV ≈ 12.22%), and low water absorption (≈ 1.17%), indicating high strength, durability, and low porosity. All measured parameters complied with ASTM and BS specifications. Concrete produced using these aggregates achieved a 28-day compressive strength of 38.4 MPa, increasing to 45.9 MPa at 180 days, while the estimated modulus of elasticity ranged between 31.95 and 32.94 GPa. The results confirm that the South Sana’a basalt represents a high-quality and durable source of coarse aggregate for structural concrete production.
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Evaluation of Crushed Basaltic Rocks as Coarse Aggregate, at Selected Site South Sana’a, Yemen: Properties and Concrete Performance. (2026). Sana’a University Journal of Applied Sciences and Technology, 4(5), 2075-2087. https://doi.org/10.59628/jast.v4i5.2366
