Study on durability of concrete by using rice husk as partial replacement of cement

Abstract

Concrete's durability is described as its capacity to withstand weathering, chemical attack and surface abrasion to retaining its desirable engineering qualities. It is life time process until the structure gets failed or collapsed. Durability of the concrete is depended on the structure exposure to the environment, desired characteristics and its usage. In order to increase the strength and durability characteristics of concrete, the waste from paddy cultivation, the rice husk ash (RHA), being used for substitute with cement as 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5% and 15% for the concrete grade of M40 and the results are compared with conventional concrete specimen. The workability test results proves, the replacement of RHA, does not affect the flow of concrete. And the compression strength test proves concrete with 7.5% of RHA attains maximum strength. From the durability tests of acid, sulphate, alkaline and chloride tests, the concrete with RHA possesses good resistivity and from the RCPT tests all the specimens were classified under low and very low penetration category as per ASTMC1202.