Strength Characteristics of Periwinkle Shell Ash Blended Cement Concrete

Abstract

The study investigated the eect of periwinkle shell ash (PSA) as cement substitute on the strengths of concrete. Specimens were prepared from a mix of designed strength 25N=mm 2 and the replacement of cement with PSA was from 0% up to 40%. A total of 180 specimens were cast and tested for compressive and tensile splitting strength at 7 and up to 180 days. The results revealed that compressive strength increased with the increase in curing age but decreased as the PSA contents increased. The design strength was attained with 10% PSA content at 28 days. The tensile splitting strength with 10% PSA was higher than the control (i.e. mix only having cement as the binder) at ages above 14 days. The relationship between tensile splitting strength and compressive strength of PSA blended cement concrete is similar to that of the conventional concrete. The study concluded that 10% PSA content is adequate as cement substitution for structural concrete.