Compressive Strength and High-Temperature Residual Strength of Cement Specimens Containing Bagasse Ash

Abstract

Cement is currently the most versatile and widely used material in construction. However, the high carbon emissions and energy consumption associated with the manufacture of cement remains a serious concern. bagasse ash (BA) is a secondary waste product of bagasse-fired power generation. This study investigated the use of BA as a replacement for cement as a means of reducing the environmental impact of concrete-based construction. At 28 days, we measured the water absorption of cement mortar specimens as well as the compressive strength at room-temperature and after heating. Experiments were conducted involving the replacement of various proportions of cement using BA and fly ash (FA), followed by a comparison of the physical properties. Our test results demonstrate the applicability of BA in the production of cement mortar mixtures with high water-binder ratios. It was found that the water-binder ratio determines the optimal proportion of BA when used as a replacement for cement, wherein a higher water-binder ratio means that more of the cement can be replaced with BA. In compressive strength respect, the optimal cement replacement with BA was 15 % to 25 %, whereas the optimal cement replacement with FA was 20 %. BA was shown to have a more pronounced effect in reducing water absorption in cement mortar specimens with high water-binder ratios (0.55 to 0.65). The compactness of specimens with lower water absorption enables them to retain more of their initial compressive strength following exposure to high temperatures.