Groundnut Shell Ash as Partial Replacement of Cement in Concrete

Abstract

Ordinary Portland cement is recognized as a major construction material throughout the world. Researchers all over the world today are focusing on ways of utilizing either industrial or agricultural waste, as a source of raw materials for industry. This waste, utilization would not only be economical, but may also result in foreign exchange earnings and environmental pollution control as industrial wastes, such as blast furnace slag, sugar cane bagasse ash, ground nut shell ash, fly ash and silica fume are being used as supplementary cementing materials (SCMs). The utilization of industrial and agricultural waste produced by industrial process has been the focus of waste reduction research for economical, environmental, and technical reasons. The present study is aimed at ground nut shell ash (GSA), with partial replacement of cement. The replacement is done at various percentages like 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and its effect on properties of concrete was investigated. Fresh and hardened properties were exercised with various replacement levels. The study indicated that ground nut shell ash can effectively be used as cement replacement (up to 10%) without substantial change in strength.