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Compressive strength of concrete with rice husk ash as partial replacement of

ordinary Portland cement

Article · May 2012

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 Scholarly Journal of Engineering Research Vol. 1(2), pp. 32-36, May 2012
Available online at http:// www.scholarly-journals.com/SJER
ISSN 2276-8955 ©2012 Scholarly-Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Compressive strength of concrete with rice husk ash as

partial replacement of ordinary Portland cement
Maurice E. Ephraim, Godwin A. Akeke and Joseph O. Ukpata.
Department of Civil Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Accepted 23 May, 2012

This research work was experimentally carried out to investigate the effects of partially replacing
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with our local additive Rice Husk Ash (RHA) which is known to be
super pozzolanic in concrete at optimum replacement percentage which will help to reduce the cost of
housing. With this research work, the problem of waste management of this agro-waste will be solved.
The specific gravity of RHA was found to be 1.55, the density of RHA concrete was found to be 2.043,
3
1.912 and 1.932kg/m at 10%, 20% and 25% replacement percentages respectively. RHA concrete was
found to be very workable with a slump value of over 100mm. The incorporation of RHA in concrete
resulted in increase water demand and enhanced strength. The compressive strength values at 28days
2
were found to be 38.4, 36.5 and 33N/mm at the same replacement percentages above. These
2
compressive strength values compared favourably with the controlled concrete strength of 37N/mm at a
mix ratio of 1:1.5:3.

Keywords: Rice Husk, Compressive Strength and Concrete.

INTRODUCTION

Rice husk ash is an agricultural waste which is produced
in millions of tons. Waste managers have found it difficult
over the years to dispose this agro-waste. Rice husk ash
(RHA) is obtained by the combustion of rice husk and has
been found to be super pozzolanic. RHA is a highly
reactive pozzolanic material suitable for use in lime-
pozzolan mixes and for Portland cement replacement.
RHA is very reach in silicon dioxide which makes it very
reactive with lime due to its non-crystalline silica content
and its specific surface.
There is an increasing importance to preserve the
environment in the present day world. Rice Husk Ash
(RHA) from the parboiling plants is posing a serious
environmental threat and ways are being thought of to
dispose them. This material is actually a super-pozzolan
since it is rich in Silica and has about 85% to 90% Silica
content. A good way of utilizing this material is to use it
for making “High Performance Concrete” which means
high workability and long-term durability of the concrete.
ASTM C618(2) defined pozzolan as a siliceous or
siliceous and aluminous materials which in themselves
have little or no cementitous properties but in finely
divided form and in the presence of moisture, they can
react with calcium hydroxide which is librated during the
hydration of Portland cement at ordinary temperatures to
form compounds possessing cementitous properties.
This study investigated the engineering properties of
RHA as a material for concrete production. The results
shows that RHA is a super pozzolan and very suitable as
a partial replacement of OPC.
EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Materials
Rice Husk Ash (RHA). - Rice Husk Ash was burnt for
approximately 72hours in air in an uncontrolled burning
0
process. The temperature was in the range of 400-600 C.
The ash collected was sieved through BS standard sieve
size 75µm and its colour was grey. It was then measured
by volume to replace the cement at 10,20and 25%.
Cement
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was used in which the
composition and properties is in compliance with the
Nigerian standard organization defined standard of
cement for concrete production.
Ephraim et al. 33

Table 1. Physio Chemical Properties of RHA.

Materials Specific Gravity Chemical Analysis%

Si02 Al203 Fe203 Ca0 Mg0 Na03 K20 Loi Na2

0

OPC 2.99 20.99 6.19 3.86 65.96 0.22 0.17 0.6 1.7
3

RHA 2.11 88.32 0.46 0.67 0.6 0.44 0.12 2.91 5.8
1

OPC 3.08 23.89 8.91 2.72 51.27 4.48 - 0.96 - 0.1

8

RHA 2.16 92.99 0.18 0.43 1.03 0.35 - 0.72 - 0.0

2

Specific Surface 16196 Mean particle size 12.34 Passing N0:325 (%) 96.6

Aggregates 2 The fresh concrete was subjected to the following tests.

The research work is restricted to sand collected from the
river. The sand was collected to ensure that there was no
allowance for deleterious materials contained in the sand.
In this research, granite of 20mm maximum size was
used. Proper inspection was carried out to ensure that it
is free from deleterious materials. Granite was gotten
from zenith quarry in Akamkpa Cross River state.
Water
Water plays an important role in concrete production
(mix) in that it starts the reaction between the cement,
pozzolan and the aggregates. It helps in the hydration of
the mix. In this research, the water used was Pipe borne
water and free from contaminants.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Concrete is a mixture of water, cement, aggregate
(coarse and fine) and admixture. It is important that the
constituent material remain uniformly distributed within
the concrete mass during the various stages of handling
and that full compaction is achieved, and making sure
that the characteristics of concrete which affect full
compaction like consistency, mobility and compatibility
are in conformity with relevant codes of practice.
The following tests were carried out in accordance
with relevant BS Standards.
(i) Slump
(i) Density test
(iii) Compressive strength test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Physical Properties of Rice Husk Ash (RHA); Sand
and Gravel
The following physical properties of RHA, sand and
aggregate were investigated in the laboratory and the
results obtained from the specific gravity test.
Results of Specific Gravity
The results show that the specific gravity of RHA varies
from 1.5 to 1.56 with an average value of 1.55, while the
specific gravity of sand used had a constant value of
1.52.
Particle Size Distribution
The results of the particle size distribution analysis
carried out in this research work are graphically
presented in figure.1 Graphical Presentation of Particle
Size Distribution Results of RHA, Sand and Coarse
Aggregates used in this investigation
Bulk Density

1. The aggregates were tested for physical properties The bulk densities of RHA, sand and the coarse
3
such as: specific gravity, Particle distribution test and bulk aggregate used was found to be 20, 45 and 65kg/m
density. respectively.
 Scholarly J. Engineer. Res. 34

Figure 1.Graphical Presentation of Particle Size Distribution Results of RHA, Sand and Coarse Aggregates used in this investigation

Table 2. Density Values for Various RHA Concrete Mixes

Age Percentage Replacement with RHA

Days 10% 20% 25%
Average Densities 7 2038 1901 1948
3
of RHA Concrete in KN/m 14 2052 1875 1914
21 2064 1909 1937
28 2017 1950 1902

Workability (Slump) weight concrete.

The workability test results are presented in Appendix IV.
The workability test results show that RHA concrete can
be graded under S2 using the European classification
ENV 206:1992 having the slump of 50-90 and by TRRL
classification, the workability is described as medium with
compacting factor of 0.90 and slump of 50 – 100mm.
Compressive Strength of RHA Concrete
The compressive strength of RHA concrete was
investigated at 7, 14, 21 and 28days curing age. The
summary of the results are presented graphically and
tabulated in a figure 2 below for different replacement
percentages of RHA.

Density
The density of RHA was investigated as stated in the
methodology and the results are analyzed and presented
as a ratio of the mass to that of the volume. Density
Values for Various RHA Concrete Mixes table 2 and 3..
From the above results of density, it can be seen that the
density of RHA is in the same range for all replacement
levels. According to BS 877, it can be classified as light
CONCLUSION
The use of RHA in civil construction works will reduce
environmental pollution, improve the quality of concrete,
and reduce its cost of production as well as solving the
problem of agro-waste management by putting into use
this locally found additive (RHA).
Adding RHA to concrete resulted in increased water
Ephraim et al. 35

Table 3: Density Values for Various RHA Concrete Mixes

Age Percentage Replacement with RHA

days 10% 20% 25%
Average Compressive 7 12 11 10
2
strength N/mm 14 14 13 12
21 18 18 14
28 22 20 19

Figure 2.Graphical Representation of the Relationship between Compressive Strength and Age.

demand, increase in workability and enhanced strength
compared to the control sample. The compressive
strength values at 28days were found to be 38.4, 36.5
2 2
and 33N/mm compared to the control with 37N/mm .
This results show that an addition of RHA from 5-10% will
increase the strength and a further addition up to 15-
25%RHA will have a slight reduction in strength of 15%
and a decreasing in strength values is pointed out when
the levels of RHA are increasing (figure 2).
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international Journal of Cement Composites and Light Weight
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Sciences 3(3).
Malhotra (Ed) (1992). Proceedings of the International Symposium on
Advances in Concrete Technology. Atthens, Greece.
Mauro, M, et al (2004). Influence of Rice Hush Ash on Mechanical
Characteristics of Concrete. ACI.
Mehta, PK (1992) Rice Husk Ash a Unique Supplementary Cementing
Material, in V.M
Mehta, PK, (1999) “Concrete Technology for Sustainable
Development”. Concrete International, 21(11).
Mehta, PK, Folliard, KJ (1995) “Rice Husk Ash a Unique Supplementary
Cementing Material Durability Aspects”. USA.
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