Mechanical and durability properties of concrete with partial replacement of fine aggregate by sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA)

Abstract

Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) is the major waste produced by the agricultural industries. Nowadays there is a huge demand of fine aggregate in the construction and disposing the agricultural and industrial wastes are very much difficult. The fine aggregate can be partially replaced with SCBA because of the presence of Aluminium ions and Silica ions and it can be effectively used in the concrete. It is calcinated at 600 °C for 2 days to increase its silica content and utilized for replacing the fine aggregate partially in M50 grade of concrete. Five concrete mixes (including one control mix) with SCBA as replaced material for fine aggregate, is cast with replacement percentage of 0% to 20% in step of 5%. The concrete specimens are cured for 28 days. From the experimental study, the mechanical strength is higher in 15% replacement of fine aggregate with SCBA among the other replacement levels. Hence the optimum percentage for replacing the fine aggregate with SCBA is found to be 15%. For this optimum percentage, durability tests viz. Sorptivity, Porosity, Bulk density, Water absorption, Acid Resistance and Corrosion resistance are carried out and found that 15% replacement of fine aggregate with SCBA is performing better.