Strength and Durability Properties Empty Fruit Bunch Ash (EFBA) as Partial Replacement of Cement

Abstract

AbstractThis research showed the results of experiments evaluating the use of empty fruit bunch ash (EFBA) from the oil palm industry as partial replacement for ordinary Portland cement. Research on the reuse of waste materials in the concrete industry has been quite intensive in the past decade. The objective of this research is to identify the performance of EFBA as a partial cement replacement in the production of concrete. EFBA of various amounts, namely 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by volume, was added as a replacement for ordinary Portland cement. The results showed that EFBA concrete greatly improved the compressive and flexural strength of concrete. The rate of water absorption of EFBA concrete was reduced as EFBA filled up the existing voids, making it more impermeable. However, the compressive strength of the EFBA concrete decreases gradually when the amount of EFBA increased. It can be concluded that the optimum percentage of EFBA as a partial cement replacement is 15%. In this direction, an experimental investigation of ultrasonic pulse velocity, carbonation test, compressive strength, flexural strength and water absorption was undertaken to test the performance of EFBA and admixtures as partial replacement for cement in concrete.KeywordsEmpty fruit bunch ashAdmixtureStrength and durability concerete properties