Abstract: The mica content of artificial sand affects its use in many areas. Present researches on the correlation between mica content and concrete performance are not comprehensive. Due to engineering safety considerations, the standards for mica content in artificial sand are overly conservative in China. As a result, artificial aggregates with high mica content are unsuitable for many hydropower projects. To promote the widespread use of artificial sand with high mica content, we propose to add free mica into artificial sand made from parent rock with high mica content. This study aims to investigate the effects of varying content of free mica in artificial sand on concrete performance. Test results demonstrate that mica content has minimal impact on the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and impermeability of concrete. However, as mica content increases, the unit water consumption of concrete increases, the axial tensile strength and ultimate tensile value of concrete decrease slightly, and frost resistance degrades.

Key words: concrete, mechanical performance, tensile performance, frost resistance, impermeability, mica content, artificial sand