Strength And Durability Properties of Sustainable Concrete Utilising Rice Husk Ash and Silica Fume

Abstract

Supplemental cementitious material has been commonly added to concrete in recent years. By replacing some of the Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in concrete with cementitious elements like fly ash and silica fume, the mechanical properties of the mixture can be enhanced. There is an impending fly ash shortage in Arkansas because to nearby coal plant businesses. The possible use of rice husk ash (RHA) to replace cementitious materials has been investigated in this study. RHA is a waste product that is produced during agricultural processes. Due to its elevated silica content, it can be used as cementitious materials. In this investigation, concrete was modified to partially replace Ordinary Portland Cement using silica fume (0 to 20%) and RHA (0 to 30 %) at different percentages. In this investigation, a Class C fly ash that is often utilised locally was also included for comparison analysis with concrete specimens modified with RHA and silica fume. Both the fresh concrete mix’s and hardened concrete’s mechanical characteristics were ascertained through laboratory testing. The durability of the material will be improved, and the quantity of cement required will be reduced by the addition of silica fume and RHA to concrete. This includes improvements in water absorption, sorpitivity, effective porosity, permeability, acid resistance, and resistance to fast chloride penetration. Nevertheless, the incorporation of silica fume and RHA in concrete leads to an elevation in water demands in comparison to the standard regular Portland cement mixture.