Usability of Ayazini tuffs in concrete paving stone

The use of concrete paving stones is rapidly increasing in Turkey because these stones, produced by mixing cement, water, and aggregates, provide a durable and aesthetic paving material suitable for various environments requiring asphalt, concrete, and other coatings. Cost is a significant factor in their production. Particularly, the amount of cement is a major cost-driving factor. In Ayazini Village, Ihsaniye district of Afyonkarahisar province, tuffs are used as an additive in Portland composite cement manufacturing. In this study, these tuffs were evaluated as a substitute for cement in the production of paving stones. In the first stage of the study, four mortar mixtures and 40 samples were prepared by reducing the amount of CEM I 42.5 R type cement used in paving stone production by 5%, 10%, and 20%, respectively, and replacing it with Ayazini tuff. In the second stage, three mortar mixtures and 33 samples were prepared by reducing the amount of CEM I 42.5 R type cement by 10% and 20%, respectively, substituting Ayazini tuff, reducing the amount of water used, and adding superplasticizer additive. In total, 7 mortar mixtures and 73 samples were prepared. The prepared samples were tested for splitting tensile strength, abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw resistance, unit weight, apparent density, water absorption, and porosity values, which were compared with standard values. This research demonstrates the potential of using Ayazini tuff as a substitute for cement in paving stone production, which could increase material diversity and optimize production costs.