Optimization and Simulation of Saw Dust Ash Concrete Using Extreme Vertex Design Method

Abstract

In this research study, a constrained simplex optimization method was adapted for the evaluation of green concrete’s mechanical property constituting of two-component mixture problem of cement and saw dust ash (SDA), which is a derivative from industrial residue. This experiential research will provide avenue for the recycle and incorporation of waste materials to achieve sustainability and control indiscriminate disposal of waste. The formulated components constrained were realized from the relevant literature studies to obtain the feasible planes in the simplex, and from this computation approach using I-optimality, the design mixture proportions and experimental runs were derived. The experimental results obtained from the laboratory experiments showed a maximum compressive strength of 31.13 N/mm2 with a ratio of 0.875 : 0.125 for cement and SDA, respectively, and a flexural strength of 9.49 N/mm2 with a ratio of 1 : 0 for cement and SDA, respectively; the results were observed to decline linearly with the further addition of SDA. The details generated from laboratory program were utilized for the development of the EVD model through fits statistical evaluation, ANOVA, diagnostic test and influence statistics, numerical optimization, and graphical statistical computations to analyze the datasets and locate the optimal levels of mixture ingredients using desirability function. A desirability score of 0.990 was derived at a mix ratio of 0.89 : 0.110 for the two components, cement and SDA, to produce a maximized compressive strength and a flexural strength of 31.102 N/mm2 and 9.384 N/mm2, respectively. Furthermore, the test of adequacy of the generated EVD model was carried out through simulation and statistical validation exercises using the F-test and student’s t-test, and the outcome signified a good correlation between the EVD model-simulated and actual values with $p$ value >0.05.