Compressive Strength of Volcanic Ash/Ordinary Portland Cement Laterized Concrete

Babatunde J Olawuyi ,Kolapo O Olusola

doi:10.9744/ced.12.1.23-28

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of partial replacement of cement with volcanic ash (VA) on the compressive strength of laterized concrete. A total of 192 cubes of 150mm dimensions were cast and cured in water for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of hydration with cement replacement by VA and sand replacement by laterite both ranging from 0 to 30% respectively, while a control mix of 28-day target strength of 25 N/mm2 was adopted. The results show that the density and compressive strength of concrete decreased with increase in volcanic ash content. The 28-day, density dropped from 2390 kg/m3 to 2285 kg/m3 (i.e. 4.4% loss) and the compressive strength from 25.08 N/mm2 to 17.98 N/mm2 (i.e. 28% loss) for 0-30% variation of VA content with no laterite introduced. The compressive strength also decreased with increase in laterite content; the strength of the laterized concrete however increases as the curing age progresses.

Highlights

Research trends globally in materials development has been that of sourcing for alternatives necessitated by the high cost of conventional materials, difficulty in accessing fund for construction/building development, the need to recycle agricultural waste materials for construction, the bio-degradability of the materials, the need to maintain ecological balance and population growth and the challenges of housing amongst the many other reasons [1,2,3,4]
The development of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is said to be fundamental to advancing low-cost construction materials to be used in the production of self-sufficient means of shelter especially in developing countries
This work investigates the effect of the incorporation of the locally available lateritic soils on strength characteristics of concrete with the addition of another locally available pozzolanic material as partial replacement of cement [4]

Summary

Introduction

Research trends globally in materials development has been that of sourcing for alternatives necessitated by the high cost of conventional materials, difficulty in accessing fund for construction/building development, the need to recycle agricultural waste materials for construction, the bio-degradability of the materials, the need to maintain ecological balance and population growth and the challenges of housing amongst the many other reasons [1,2,3,4]. Studies into utilisation of laterite as a partial substitute for fine aggregate in concrete production for building purposes has been carried out as attempts in direction of the need to use locally available materials disfiguring our construction sites as waste products. Laterite has been identified as a possible material for partial replacement of sand in concrete to produce what has been called laterized concrete, while studies have been carried out on effects of laterite incorporation in strength and serviceability properties of fresh and hardened concrete [8−13]. This work investigates the effect of the incorporation of the locally available lateritic soils on strength characteristics of concrete with the addition of another locally available pozzolanic material (volcanic ash) as partial replacement of cement [4]. The introduction of volcanic ash (a seemingly waste and supposed potential hazardous material of volcanic eruption), into concrete and laterized concrete can be viewed as an attempt to convert an ecological waste material to a purposeful use

Literature Review

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Density

Conclusion