PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF COIR PITH ASH BLENDED CEMENT CONCRETE EXPOSED TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURE

Abstract

The concrete characteristics exposed to elevated temperature are gaining importance in terms of structural stability and serviceability state assessment of the structure. This paper deals with the study on behavior of coir pith ash (CPA) blended concrete exposed to elevated temperatures. Concrete specimens were prepared by replacing cement with CPA by percentages ranging from 0% to 20%. The specimens were then subjected to thermal treatment by exposing to temperatures of 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C in an electric furnace for a duration of 1 hour after the attainment of peak temperature. After providing the exposure, the samples were cured by air cooling or water-cooling and were tested for visual observation, residual compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity. It has been observed that thermal performance of CPA blended concrete was better than that of control mix sample. Also, out of the two different cooling regimes adopted, air cooling method showed better performance that water cooling.