Inclusion of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) as Micro Engineered Material (MEM) in Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC)

Abstract

This study is to determine the workability and strength properties of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) with the incorporation of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) as Micro Engineered Material (MEM), which relates to the usage of industrial waste for sustainability. In this research, the MEM was assessed in UHPC through 48 numbers of 100 mm cube samples. POFA as MEM is partially used as cement replacement from 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5% by cement weight. The workability of UHPC was assessed by conducting slump test and flow table test whereas compressive strength test was carried out for samples taken at 1, 3, 7, and 28 days of curing. The optimum percentage of POFA was marked at 5% with compressive strength of 139 MPa at day 28. Moreover, the 5% mix of MEM also recorded the optimum fresh properties with slump reading of 265 mm and flow table of 640 mm as compared to the other UHPC samples. In conclusion, POFA as MEM enhanced the fresh and hardened properties of UHPC by producing dispersion particles of cement and enhanced the binder properties with cement.