COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE PRODUCED WITH DIFFERENT CEMENT BRANDS

Abstract

The quality of cement significantly influences the compressive strength of concrete. This study comparatively assessed the performance of three widely used cement brands Dangote, BUA and Mangal on the compressive strength of concrete cubes. Concrete was prepared with a constant mix ratio of 1:2:4 and a water–cement ratio of 0.5. Laboratory tests included sieve analysis of aggregates, specific gravity determination, slump test, water absorption and compressive strength testing at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The specific gravity of the sharp sand was 2.20. All mixes produced true slumps between 20 mm and 30 mm, confirming comparable workability. Water absorption values ranged from 12.0% to 16.2%. At 28 days, Mangal cement recorded the highest average compressive strength of 17.9 N/mm², followed by Dangote (15.3 N/mm²) and BUA (12.2 N/mm²). Mangal cement also exhibited superior early-age strengths at 7 and 14 days. The results demonstrate that cement brand has a measurable effect on concrete strength under identical mix and curing conditions. Mangal cement is therefore recommended for structural applications requiring higher compressive strength.