Assessment of the potential of rice husk ash (RHA) as a supplementary material in binary blended cement for road pavement applications

Abstract

The current study explores the feasibility of using rice husk ash(RHA) as an additive in PPC (Portland Pozzolana Cement) concrete for rigid road pavement. The research investigates the impact of RHA on concrete’s strength parameters, specifically tensile, split tensile and compressive strengths. The conventional mix design method is applied for the controlled concrete, serving as baseline for designing mixes with varying percentage of RHA as a replacement for cement. The study examines five replacement levels: 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15%. Various curing durations are tested, including 3 days, 7 days, 28 days, and 56 days. The primary focus is to determine the optimal quantity of RHA as a cement replacement through experimental analysis. Key findings reveal that for compressive strength, the optimal replacement level is 10% RHA, while for flexural strength, the optimal replacement level is 5% RHA. These results underscore the potential of RHA to enhance concrete performance in road pavement applications when used judiciously as a partial substitute for cement.