Properties of Concrete Incorporating Bagasse Ash

Abstract

About 44 thousand tons / day sugarcane bagasse ash is produced from cogeneration process in sugar mill industries. The sugarcane bagasse ash can be utilized as replacement of cement in concrete as it possesses pozzolanic properties rather to dump at nearby locations of industries which causes numerous health problems to local living communities. The incorporation of sugarcane bagasse ash in concrete also reduces the CO2 emission by reduction of cement production up to some extent. In this study, experimental testing was done to explore the suitability of sugarcane bagasse ash in concrete by performing slump test, unit weight, strength in compression and splitting tensile, pulse velocity and chloride permeability and results were compared with control concrete. The sugarcane bagasse ash was utilized as partly replacement of cement at 10%, 20%, 30% & 40% level by weight in concrete. SEM morphology analysis and chemical compound changes by XRD analysis were also be checked in this study. The results showed 10% incorporation of sugarcane bagasse ash as replacement of cement as optimum value. Higher incorporation levels did not improve the strength and durability properties significantly with comparison to control concrete. The SEM and XRD results showed the increase in hydration products formation with the inclusion of Sugarcane bagasse ash with cement in concrete.