Mechanical and Characterization Behavior of Light Weight Aggregate Concrete Using Sintered Fly Ash Aggregates and Synthetic Fibers

Abstract

This study focuses into the usage of sintered fly ash aggregate in the production of lightweight concrete. To minimize the environmental impacts would alleviate the waste disposal issues related with fly ash and contribute in the decrease of environmental pollution. Construction materials are in high need in the domestic sector, which is growing increasingly rare day by day. In India, the power sector is currently reliant on thermal power plants, which generate a massive amount of fly ash, estimated to be roughly 200 million tons each year. Fly ash is a waste product produced by thermal power stations when pulverized coal is burned. The use of industrial waste as a building material is a significant step towards long-term sustainability. The mechanical characteristics of sintered fly ash aggregates were discussed. According to the results, the specific gravity of these aggregates is 16–46% lower than that of regular weight aggregates, and they have higher water absorption. The 28-day comp strengths of sintered fly ash aggregate concretes range from 27 to 74MPa, with densities ranging from 1651 to 2017 kg/m3. According to the study, sintered fly ash aggregate concrete is also one of the materials that might be used to develop structural concrete. Sintered fly ash aggregate was used to replace natural aggregate (12%). The compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths of concrete produced with natural aggregate and sintered fly ash aggregate were compared. Also, concretes were conducted to a microstructure test and a SEM analysis.