Mechanical Properties of Coral Aggregate Concrete

Coral aggregate concrete represents a class of cementitious materials in which crushed coral or coral sand replaces conventional aggregates. Its mechanical performance is governed by the inherent porosity, angularity and mineral composition of coral particles, which promote internal curing but also introduce challenges in workability and strength. Key attributes include compressive strength, tensile and flexural resistance, toughness and strain-rate sensitivity under dynamic loading. The porous nature of coral aggregates enhances water retention and promotes secondary hydration, improving dimensional stability and reducing autogenous shrinkage. However, high water absorption and low aggregate strength demand tailored mixture designs, surface treatments or admixture strategies to optimise the interfacial transition zone and overall structural integrity. Applications range from remote marine infrastructure and island construction to environmentally sensitive reef restoration works, where use of locally sourced coral debris can reduce transport costs, carbon footprint and reliance on traditional aggregates.

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Mechanical Properties of Coral Aggregate Concrete publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in mechanical properties of coral aggregate concrete across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Coral aggregate concrete: A cementitious composite in which crushed coral or coral sand replaces conventional rock aggregates.

Compressive strength: The maximum axial load per unit area that a concrete specimen can withstand before failure.

Tensile strength: The capacity of concrete to resist tension forces, often assessed via splitting or flexural tests.

Dynamic mechanical properties: Behaviour of concrete under high-strain-rate or impact loading, including changes in strength and toughness.

Constitutive model: A mathematical description of the stress–strain relationship characterising material behaviour under load.

References

1. Experimental Research on Mechanical Properties and Compression Constitutive Relationship of PVA Fiber-Reinforced Coral Concrete. Materials (2022).
2. Experimental Study on the Effect of Limestone Powder Content on the Dynamic and Static Mechanical Properties of Seawater Coral Aggregate Concrete (SCAC). Materials (2023).
3. Effect of Superfine Cement Modification on Properties of Coral Aggregate Concrete. Materials (2023).
4. Material Alternatives for Concrete Structures on Remote Islands: Based on Life‐Cycle‐Cost Analysis. Advances in Civil Engineering (2022).