2007-03-06 09:14:24 · 2 answers · asked by Marquise R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
It's not just fill, it acts to strengthen the mix because the sand particles themselves have vastly superior mechanical qualities (Young's modulus, shear and tensile strength). The cement bonds the sand in place, but most of the strength of the mortar surprisingly comes from the sand itself!
Its kind of like fiberglass epoxy...the fiberglas is much stronger than the epoxy, but without the epoxy, the composite would have no shear strength as the fibers wouldn't be bound together by the epoxy matrix. in this case, the sand is the strong aggregate and the cement is the matrix.
2007-03-06 09:54:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It takes up space. If the morter was only cement, without sand you would have only 10% of the volume. Morter is a mixture of sand and cement.
2007-03-06 09:18:50 · answer #2 · answered by John S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋