This study presents the results of the influence of coarse aggregate size and superplasticizer on drying shrinkage and compressive strength of laterized concrete. The compressive strength was determined on cubes of 150 × 150 × 150 mm. A total of 3 cubes were cast for each test specimen, different sets for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days bringing the total number of cubes cast to 48. The specimens were cured and subjected to uniaxial compressive loading test at room temperature. Test results showed that conventional laterized concrete (without Conplast SP430) made with smaller size aggregate (12.5 mm) gave a percentage increase in compressive strength of 4.44% when compared with that made with larger size aggregate (19 mm). Similar comparison was done when Conplast SP430 was used and it was observed that the smaller size aggregate concrete mix gave a percentage increase in compressive strength of 3.54%. Furthermore, twelve 100 × 100 × 500 mm laterized concrete short columns were under drying shrinkage investigation for 90 days. The results of the investigation showed that the shrinkage strain of laterized concrete made with smaller size coarse aggregate (12.5 mm) is 1.17 times greater than that made with larger size coarse aggregate (19 mm) at 90 days. Test results also shows that shrinkage strain of laterized concrete made with Conplast SP430 is 1.12 times lower than that of conventional laterized concrete.

Keywords: Laterite, drying shrinkage, compressive strength, workability, superplasticizer and coarse aggregate.