Fly Ash Aggregate Research Articles

Experimental Prognostication of Ultra-High-Performance Lightweight Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete by Using Sintered Fly Ash Aggregate, Palm Oil Shell Aggregate, and Supplementary Cementitious Materials.

To create cost-effective structures, the modern construction industry has sought to reduce the dead load of buildings. Lightweight concrete is a quick way to reduce dead load. The current study is primarily concerned with identifying modern substitutes for coarse aggregate likely to aid in waste management and offer potential alternatives to the most exploited natural resources. According to ACI C 39-M, this study developed a novel lightweight hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (LWHFRC) with a density of less than 1825 kg/m3 and compressive strength of 50 to 75 MPa. Ordinary Portland cement (53 Grade) was mixed with fly ash, silica fume, and GGBS. Sintered fly ash aggregate (SFA) and palm oil shell aggregate (POS) were used as coarse aggregates. Hooked steel fibers and polyvinyl alcohol fibers were combined in a hybrid form to improve crack propagation properties at the initial and subsequent stages. The water-to-binder ratio was kept constant at 0.30 to 0.35 with a 1% superplasticizer. Four volume fractions of hybrid fibers (both steel and PVA with Vf = 0%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) were added. In addition, XRD, SEM, EDS, and EDS mapping tests were performed to finalize the material’s chemical composition and crystalline structure. Furthermore, beams and cylinders were tested to determine the modulus of rupture, which was determined to be between 9.5 and 14 MPa by ACI code C 1609-M, and indirect tensile strength, achieved as 10 to 14 MPa by ACI code C 496-M. The researcher altered the modulus of elasticity (Ec) formula for lightweight concrete and discovered a relationship between fc’ and fcb, fc’ and fspt, and fcb and fspt. Finally, ANOVA and regression tests were run to check the significance of the experiment. The cost analysis revealed that the cost of LWHFRC increased by approximately 16.46%, while the strength increased by 55.98% compared to regular concrete.

Life cycle sustainable assessment of natural vs artificial lightweight aggregates

Optimal selection of concrete aggregates can promote sustainable construction practice from the bottom line, which is a feasible strategy to cope with resources crisis and solid waste pollution. In this study, a two-level tree structure framework was thus proposed for the sustainability assessment of lightweight aggregates (LWA) based on the life cycle assessment concept. The evaluation system was divided into four criteria categories marked as society demands, economic costs, environmental impacts and technical performance, and each of them was assigned a number of sub-index. A qualitative questionnaire survey with seven sub-index and a quantitative calculation with eight sub-index were executed in the target system. Sintering fly ash aggregates (SFFAA), cold-bonding fly ash aggregates (CBFAA), waste clay brick aggregates (WCBA) and natural pumice aggregates (NPA) were chosen as typical artificial and natural lightweight aggregates objectives and evaluated in the framework. Impact and sensitivity analyses were conducted to comparably discuss the sustainability of various lightweight aggregates. The impact analyses represented that the waste clay brick aggregate has better sustainability. The sensitivity analysis shows that the supply-demand relationship of raw materials greatly impacts the sustainability of lightweight aggregate, and the transportation distance of raw materials is the critical factor in the production of LWA. At the same time, artificial lightweight aggregates are sensitive to cement binder consumption, and zero cement addition or waste cement powder is an optimistic option. From the sustainable life cycle assessment results, waste clay brick aggregates, sintering fly ash aggregates and cold-bonding fly ash aggregates are suggested as the alternative to the natural pumice aggregates for the lightweight aggregates concrete production. The emphasis on the weight of the social dimension will tend to prefer the selection of SFAA, and the economic or environmental dimension will lead to the preference of CBFAA for sustainable development. The framework proposed in this work could be used in choosing other sustainable construction materials or cleaner products.

Durability studies on fly-ash based laterized concrete: A cleaner production perspective to supplement laterite scraps and manufactured sand as fine aggregates

This research aims to produce sustainable concrete by effectively utilizing laterite scraps as fine aggregates in fly ash-based cement concrete and assessing its durability characteristics. This utilization reduces sand extraction, pollution to the environment, and conserves natural reserves by reducing the need for virgin materials. To evaluate the engineering properties, durability properties and sustainable property of laterized concrete, a control mix made with 0% laterite scraps and four mixes made with 25%–100% laterite scraps at 25% intervals with the same high-quality cement, fly ash, and coarse aggregate was used. Due to the influence of clay minerals such as kaolinite and montmorillonite in laterite scraps, the slump values ranged from 85 to 15 mm, with the control mix being more workable than the laterized samples. The combination of 75% manufactured sand and 25% laterite scraps in concrete were found to remarkably enhance the residual compressive strength. A significant increase of compressive strength of about 11% was achieved at replacing 25% laterite scraps at 28 days. Higher replacements of 50%, 75%, and 100% laterite scraps decrease cubes strength by approximately 3%, 15%, and 28%, respectively. From the compressive strength test results, it is quite evident that utilizing laterite wastes reduces the amount of virgin aggregates needed to produce concrete resulting in less natural resource consumption. Moreover, the test results of durability parameters such as water absorption, permeability, sorptivity, drying shrinkage, and rapid chloride penetration of laterized concrete mixes containing 50% replacement recline within the acceptable limits as per standards, confirm their intended performance throughout the specific structural service life. The embodied energy assessment of laterized concrete mixes achieved the most significant reduction of 22.41 MJ/m3, revealing the advantageous role of laterite scraps in reducing energy expenditure.

The physical and chemical composition of fly ash from Troitsk state district power plant (GRES) and its potential use in the construction industry

This paper deals with the use in construction of fly ash, bottom ash, and slag waste from thermal power plants. Using material from the Troitsk State District Power Plant (GRES), we studied the potential use of slag and ash, as well as thermal power by-products, which occupy large areas, pollute the environment, and negatively affect human health. If we correctly approach this problem, fly ash and slag can be used in concrete, replacing part of the cement content, or as an aggregate, which will increase the resistance of concretes to environmental impacts, and therefore become an effective raw material for the production of building materials. Studies have shown ash is most effectively used as an additive in cement and in the production of fine-grained concretes. Ash from thermal power plants are mostly used in the form of porous ash aggregates, including unburned fly-ash aggregate. This study contributes to the effective use of ashes from Troitsk GRES in the production of light concretes. The use of these ashes in the production of heat-insulating wall materials will allow an increase in the efficiency of residential and industrial construction. This can lead to the development of the construction industry in the region and job gain while reducing the environmental impact.

Assessing the utilisation of industrial waste as aggregate and manufactured sand: microstructural and durability characteristics on high-performance concrete

PurposeUtilising industrial waste, such as fly ash (FA) and bagasse ash (BA), reduces waste management and increases mechanical strength. Concrete is modified with FA and BA in the cool bonded method of concrete preparation.Design/methodology/approachThe study used to partially replace cement with BA powder at proportions 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% and coarse aggregates are replaced with FA aggregates made with FA and cement using a cold-bonded technique at proportions 0–25%. FA aggregates were made at 10:90, 15:85, 20:80 and 25:75 proportions of cement and FA. The FA aggregates at the best proportion 15:85 was selected as a coarse aggregate by conducting tests like specific gravity, crushing value, impact value and water absorption tests.FindingsThe addition of 30% content decreases porosity by 21% and increases strength significantly at 28 days. Microstructure evolution is carried out to identify material behaviour.Originality/valueMechanical and durable properties such as flexural strength, tensile strength, water absorption test, acid and alkaline tests are conducted on M50 grade concrete after 3–28 days of curing.

Verification of the mutually complementary effect of fly ash and clinker aggregate on the strength, heat of hydration, and alkali-silica reaction

Verification of the mutually complementary effect of fly ash and clinker aggregate on the strength, heat of hydration, and alkali-silica reaction

Mineralogical Composition and Origin of Airborne Dust in an Alpine Environment of Hochtor (Hohe Tauern, Austria): Effects on Pedogenesis, Biological Soil Crusts, and Vascular Plant Growth

There is considerable evidence that mineral dust has an important impact on alpine ecosystems, but the relationship remains unclear in some instances. In an attempt to fill this knowledge gap, we investigated 1) the mineralogical composition of dust components at Hochtor (Hohe Tauern, Austria), 2) its effects on soil formation and biological soil crusts (BSCs), and 3) the effect of mineral dust on plant growth in this interdisciplinary study. Mineral particles such as silicates, carbonates, oxides, volcanic quartz phenocrysts, opaque ore minerals, and spheres, such as microtektites, micrometeorites and fly ash aggregates, were detected using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX). Rare micrometeorites are of extra-terrestrial origin (cosmic dust) and the decorated spheres are aggregates of fly ashes from anthropogenic origin. In terms of size, fine particles (<100 µm) and coarse particles (>100 µm) characterize the dust composition, originating mainly from adjacent rock outcrops, while the transport from the North African desert appears to be less important and diluted by local sources. The research was carried out as part of the pan-European biodiversity project “Soil Crust International” (SCIN). The results suggest that mineral dust aids in the rapid formation of BSCs in highly disturbed treated plots, and thus, both fine sand and available phosphorus are statistically proven to be determinants of the rapid growth of biocrusts. The number of plant individuals also increases between 2016 and 2020, however at a relatively moderate rate due to permanent mechanical erosion and debris flow within the treatment plots. Silica dust is believed to be a contributing factor to the widespread distribution of silicate plants in limestone habitats, such asPrimula minimaandCerastium uniflorum, two “acidophilic” species that have been tested more closely. Finally, it is deduced that 1) aeolian dust plays a role in the continuous process of soil and crust formation, and 2) it works as a growth regulator in complex biological communities such as BSCs and vascular plant communities by creating new habitats and increasing biodiversity.

EVALUATION OF MARSHAL STABILITY AND FLOW OF HYBRID MODIFIED ASPHALT CONCRETE

Highway engineers and researchers are constantly trying to enhance the performance of asphalt concrete pavement, in order to keep up with the global adequate and sustainable highway infrastructure drive. Modification of asphalt concrete could improve certain properties of the mixture and reduce cost of road construction materials. In this research, evaluation of Marshal Stability and flow of hybrid asphalt modified concrete was studied, the wastes from various industries such steel industry, plastic industry and coal-fired power plant industries were combined together to form hybrid composite. Steel slag, fly ash, waste plastic, aggregate and bitumen were used to produce the asphalt concrete in a hybrid manner to evaluate effect of stability and flow properties of asphalt concrete mixture. The physical properties of steel slag, fly ash aggregate, bitumen and waste plastic based polypropylene were determined by carrying out tests such as sieve analysis, moisture content, flakiness and elongation, aggregate impact, aggregate crushing, specific gravity, hygrometer, penetration, softening point, flash and fire point, viscosity, ductility and water-in-bitumen test. Bitumen with penetration grade 60/70 was used and the content varied from 5.0 to 7.0 % at 0.5% interval. A cylindrical sample with the composite mixture of asphalt concrete was produced using varying proportions of hybrid composite which comprises of steel slag (SS) and fly ash (FA) at 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by weight of the asphalt concrete to partially replace the conventional materials (aggregate and filler) and bitumen which was partially replaced with polypropylene (PP) at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. The Marshal Stability test conducted on the hybrid composite asphaltic concrete gives optimum stability values of 10.50 kN, 12.50 kN, 12.30 kN and 13.50 kN and optimum flow values of 3.30 mm, 2.80 mm, 2.80 mm, and 2.70 mm at 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% respectively. Comparing with Asphalt Institute specification, the non-conventional material used as fillers, coarse and fine aggregate can be conveniently used in light, medium and heavy traffic. Based on the findings, the application of these wastes material which constitute higher stability and flow will improve the properties of asphalt concrete, reduce the cost of constituent material and decrease environmental problem that arise from various industries.

Flexural Strengthening of Light Weight Reinforced Concrete Beams by Using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer

The use of Lightweight concretes has gained acceptance and popularity worldwide in the recent years in the construction and development of both the infrastructure and residential buildings. Light weight aggregate concrete has become more popular in recent advancements owing to the tremendous advantages it offers over the conventional concrete but at the same time light in weight and strong enough to be used for structural purposes. Replacement of natural aggregate with concrete such as light weight concrete by using sintered fly ash aggregate (natural aggregate), The main disadvantage of conventional concrete it is high self -weight. This heavy self-weight will make it to some extent an uneconomical structural material. Light weight concrete having low density facilitates reduction of dead load and to increase thermal insulation.

Experimental Study on Structural Light Weight Concrete for Partial Replacement to Coarse Aggregate by Sintered Fly Ash Aggregate

The use of Lightweight concretes has gained acceptance and popularity worldwide in the recent years in the construction and development of both the infrastructure and residential buildings. Light weight aggregate concrete has become more popular in recent advancements owing to the tremendous advantages it offers over the conventional concrete but at the same time light in weight and strong enough to be used for structural purposes. Replacement of natural aggregate with concrete such as light weight concrete by using sintered fly ash aggregate (natural aggregate), The main disadvantage of conventional concrete it is high self -weight. This heavy self-weight will make it to some extent an uneconomical structural material. Light weight concrete having low density facilitates reduction of dead load and to increase thermal insulation.

The dynamic thermal properties of aerogel-incorporated concretes

This study characterizes the dynamic thermal properties of aerogel-incorporated cement composites and other lightweight concretes. The tested specimens were prepared based on three types of aggregates: expanded clay, sintered fly ash aggregate and natural stone aggregate as a reference. The primary method of increasing the overall composite porosity was to prepare specimens by adding aerogel particles. A second method of increasing the cement matrix porosity was obtained using an air-entraining agent. The microstructure of the tested concretes was examined by mercury porosimetry. The novelty of the manuscript is that it presents the comparison of dynamic properties of concretes with the addition of aerogel and other types of lightweight concretes. Thermal properties tests were performed utilizing a non-stationary method. Based on experimentally obtained thermal properties, the values of dynamic thermal characteristics of the tested composites were calculated. The essential part of the experimental research were the tests carried out in non-stationary heat flow conditions in the analyzed composites. The aim of this research was to assess the influence of the thermal properties of a given composite on its behavior in changing temperature conditions. Having the data of the temperature change in specimens and the thermal properties of the tested composites, the total temperature increase, change of the accumulated thermal energy, heat flux, and densities were determined. Based on the experimental data, relationships between physical properties and dynamic thermal characteristics were evaluated.

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

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.

An investigation of flexural and compressive strengths of fly ash coarse aggregate concrete beams

Fly ash is a great cement alternative that may be utilized in the cement manufacturing process or as a separate addition at the batching plant during ready-mix concrete production on-site or at a ready-mix concrete facility. As a by-product, India’s 85 thermal power plants produce a massive amount of Fly ash (140 million tonnes per year), almost equalling the annual cement output. Fly ash is dumped in open fields, causing ecological and environmental issues. In this case, three considerations—environmental safety, energy savings, and the intrinsic benefits of using Fly ash—necessitate a thorough examination of the implications of using Fly ash in concrete construction by the construction industry. Thus, there is a lot of interest in using fly ash in concrete, which is reflected in the concrete industry’s current growth. As a result, the focus of this work is on an experimental investigation of the characteristics of fly-ash concrete. The flexural behaviour of fly ash concrete beams with and without reinforcing is the subject of this study. The prepared fly ash concrete beams surface morphology and porous of materials was analyzed by SEM and by XRD analysis. Fewer than two point loads, all beams have the same dimensions. Fly ash aggregate concrete has higher Ultimate load, Energy absorption potential, and Deflection values than ordinary concrete, according to the results of the experiment. The crack value is calculated as same.

Influence of design parameters on engineering properties of angular shaped fly ash aggregates

Fly ash of thermal power plants substitute’s construction materials and can help to preserve non-renewable resources. In the construction industry, more particularly in concrete and road construction, a huge quantity of aggregate is being used. Fly ash aggregate is a unique alternative for the construction industry at present. However, the properties of fly ash aggregate are mostly controlled by the type and dosage of additive used besides the characteristics of ash and curing method adopted. In the present study, specimens from various combinations of fly ash with hydrated lime, ground granulated blast furnace slag, and cement were prepared at maximum dry unit weight with optimum moisture content and cured by hot water curing method. The cured specimens were crushed to prepared angular shaped fly ash aggregates. The influence of the binding additives on the unconfined compressive strength of mixes and aggregate impact value was studied. Measured engineering properties were also analyzed through a micro-level study. The addition of lime enhanced the unconfined compressive strength of mixes and impact value of aggregates, whereas, replacement of lime with the ground granulated blast furnace slag and cement reduced the strength of the mixes. Unconfined compressive strength value of mixes shows the inverse relationship with impact value of aggregate prepared from that mixes and a correlation between unconfined compressive strength and aggregate impact value has been proposed. Moreover, the effect of moisture content and pressing force on compressive strength and aggregate impact value was also investigated on optimum mixes. From these experimentations, the optimum combinations of fly ash-additive mixes, the optimum value for moisture content, and pressing force were chosen; and angular shaped fly ash aggregates were produced by hot water curing method. Furthermore, the various physical properties, mechanical properties and durability index of these fly ash aggregates are discussed and compared with the Indian standard specifications. The leaching behavior of these aggregates was also examined in this study. The addition of lime gives better results compared to cement and ground granulated blast furnace slag and use of lime seems to be more cost-effective. Thus, these cold bonded fly ash aggregates with significant strength may find prospective use in civil engineering construction sector.

Deep learning and machine learning‐based prediction of capillary water absorption of hybrid fiber reinforced self‐compacting concrete

AbstractDeep auto‐encoders and long short‐term memory methodology (LSTM) based on deep learning as well as support vector regression (SVR) and k‐nearest neighbors (kNN) based on machine learning models for the capillary water absorption prediction of self‐compacting concrete (SCC) with single and binary, ternary, and quaternary fiber hybridization were developed. A macro and two types of micro steel fibers having different aspect ratios, and PVA fiber were used. One hundred and sixty‐eight specimens produced from 24 mixtures were used in the prediction models. The input was the content of cement, fly ash, silica fume, fine and coarse aggregate, water, superplasticizer (SP), macro and micro steel fibers, PVA, time that the specimen was immersed in water, and splitting tensile strength. Water absorption was used as output. As per the ANOVA analysis of the experiment results, the most effective parameters were macro steel fiber and time for tensile strength and water absorption, respectively. Finally, binary hybridization of 1% macro steel fiber and PVA improved the splitting tensile strength while the use of PVA as binary, ternary, and quaternary fiber hybridization increased the water absorption of SCC specimens. The auto‐encoder, LSTM, SVR, and kNN models predicted the water absorption of fiber reinforced SCC with 99.99%, 99.80%, 94.57%, and 95.50% accuracy, respectively. The performance of deep autoencoder in the estimation of water absorption of fiber‐reinforced SCC was superior to the other prediction models.

Impact Assessment of Pozzolanic Material Coupled with River Bed Aggregate on Expansive Behavior of High Strength Concrete

High strength concrete is widely used in engineering structures. Present work is an effort for suitability assessment of river bed aggregates in high strength concrete to be used at structural units of Dam (Spillway & Powerhouse) and the vulnerability of placed concrete expansion. Multiple sizes of coarse aggregate (5-20mm, 20-40mm, and 40-80mm) from Beor river bed material have been tested for physical (water absorption, crushing index, soundness, shape, and bulk density), and mineralogical characterization. Concrete Mix Design (CMD) for Spillway has been optimized using Fly ash and river aggregate that achieved the Unconfined Compressional Strength (UCS) up to 32.5 MPa. The accelerated mortar bar test (AMBT) has been introduced to gauge the reactive aggregates used in CMD.. Expansive properties of concrete were observed at the age of 7 days and 28 days that demonstrate more expansion of the specimen with slag rather than the Fly ash. Results of AMBT suggest that a minimum proportion of GGBS (40%) is needed to limit the AMBT expansion to less than 0.1% for crushed river bed aggregate and sand from the Beor source. The petrographical characterization of coarse aggregate shows the presence of deformed quartz in the coarse aggregate, which directly relates to water absorption (Wa), suggesting its suceseptility to Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR). Modifications in Pozzolanic additives in CMD indicates that 30% mixing of Fly ash can reduce the expansion rate of concrete up to 96.15%.

Feasibility study of compressed bricks utilizing rubber glove manufacturing residue

The demand of the rubber glove had increased significantly since early of the year 2020 due to the COVID-19 virus breakout especially in the medical and healthcare sector. Rubber Glove Manufacturing Residue (RGMR) is the by-product from the effluent treatment by coagulation process in the manufacturing procedure. Non-recyclable RGMR are disposed to landfill after treated. This research is aimed to reuse the RGMR in cemented interlocking bricks to address the natural resources depletion issues and greenhouse gases released from the burnt brick production. The comparison in terms of physical and mechanical properties was conducted in between RGMR and crumb rubber interlocking bricks (RIB). RGMR and crumb rubber were used as partial fine aggregate replacement by 10% while fly ash was used as a cement replacement material by 56%. Four mixes were tested, and the interlocking bricks were categorized as medium weight bricks. However, only control mix and RGMR-2 mix fulfilled the loadbearing masonry requirement of a minimum of 13.8 MPa. RGMR-2 utilizing 10% fine aggregate replacement using RGMR without cement replacement. As for the mixes utilizing fly ash and fine aggregate replacement, RGMR-1 mix and RIB mix show compressive strength of 12.15 MPa and 11.64 MPa respectively. Besides that, the use of RGMR reduced the water absorption compared to RIB mix due to the larger particle size of crumb rubber. The water absorption rate for RIB mix has exceeded the limit of water absorption for the medium weight bricks of 240 kg/m3. The finding indicates that the RGMR exhibited a better performance as compared to the crumb rubber.

Comparative study on strength aspects of lightweight concrete by replacing fine aggregate with vermiculite and cement with metakaolin and fly ash

Despite the advantages of using lightweight concrete, its use as a structural elements is relatively small compared to conventional concrete. The density and properties of lightweight aggregates using expanded vermiculite as an alternative to natural river sand in building materials development would improve lightweight concretes. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the strength properties of lightweight concrete M30 with fly ash, metakaolin and vermiculite with natural sand as a partial replacement for cement. In this study, a total of eighteen different concrete mixes were prepared with the replacement of cement with 20% fly ash and fine aggregate with vermiculite proportions from 0 to 25% in 5% increments, and another concrete mix was prepared with the replacement of cement with 10% metakaolin and fine aggregates with vermiculite fractions from 0 to 25% with the addition of 5%. The results were compared with a concrete mix without cement and at various ratios of vermiculite as a replacement for fine aggregate. 54 cubes of dimension 100 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm was cured for 28 days to determine the compressive strength; 54 prisms of dimension 100 mm x 100 mm x 500 mm was cured for 28 days to find flexural strength; and 54 cylinders of 100 mm diameter and height 300 mm was cured for 28 days to determine split tensile strength, all tests were conducted as per applicable Indian standards.

Influence of Fly Ash, Copper Slag, Plastic Waste and Recycled Aggregates Process Parameters on the Fresh and Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete Developed Using Taguchi Technique

Influence of Fly Ash, Copper Slag, Plastic Waste and Recycled Aggregates Process Parameters on the Fresh and Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete Developed Using Taguchi Technique

Optimizing the design of sintered fly ash light weight concrete by Taguchi and ANOVA analysis

The unutilized fly ash disposal to landfills is a severe threat to the environment. It deteriorates surface and groundwater quality which seriously affects the health of surrounding people. The present study develops lightweight concrete (LWC) with sintered fly ash aggregates (SFA) and does experimental and statistical analysis. For this purpose, LWC with different proportions of coarser and finer aggregates (80:20, 50:50, and 20:80), a saturation of SFA done with presoaking for 30 minutes in 11%,14%, 16% water and time of vibration 15 s, 30 s, and 45 s were taken into consideration while making LWC. The compressive strength, density, and segregation index were calculated for the specimen. Taguchi orthogonal array L9 was used to find the optimum value of each parameter. The statistical analysis by the Taguchi method indicates presoaked with 14% of water, 80:20 proportion of coarser and finer SFA and 30 s compaction is giving optimum results. The presoaked parameter is found to be the most influential among all on the basis of ANOVA analysis.