27

CHAPTER 4
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA
This chapter presents, analyses, and interprest the
data gathered by the researchers.
1. Best

Proportion

of

Sugar

Cane

Ash

to

Produce

Quality

Concrete Hollow Blocks

In order to determine the best proportion of mixing
sugarcane ash to concrete hollow blocks, two trials were
conducted. The first trial consisted of 10% sugarcane ash
while the second trial had 20% sugarcane ash. The two trials
were subjected to American Standard for Testing Materials
(ASTM) C39/C9-14 or the standard test method for compressive
strength of cylindrical concrete specimens at the Department
of Public Works and Highways (NEED 2) in San Isidro Nueva
Ecija. Table 1 shows the result of the test.
The

table

shows

that

the

compressive

strength

test

containing trial #1 with 10% sugarcane ash needed 4.600 kg

to completely break the specimen. It obtained a compressive
strength of 358.73 pounds (psi) square inch or 2.47 megaPascal (MPa). On the other hand, trial #2 with 20% sugarcane
ash needed a much higher force of 5000 kg to completely
break the specimen with compressive strength of 389.92 psi

28

or 2.69 MPa. Both samples underwent seven days curing period

due to time constraints.
Based

on

the

result

of

the

tests,

the

researchers

considered a higher percentage of sugarcane ash to be mixed

with concrete hollow blocks. They use the sample mixture for
their next tests.

Table 1
Compressive Strength Test of CHB with Different
Sugarcane Ash Percentage

Trial

Percentage of
sugarcane ash

#1
#2

10%
20%

Result of
Compressive
Strength Test
kg
psi
MPa
4600
5000

358.73
389.92

2.47
2.69

Curing Days

7
7

2. Comparison of CHB with sugarcane ash with the commercial

CHB
2.1

Compressive Strength

The result on the test subjected to ASTM C39/C9-14 or

the

standard

test

method

for

compressive

strength

of

cylindrical concrete specimens. Trial #2 with 20% sugarcane

29

ash was considered in comparing with common concrete hollow

blocks. The result of the test was shown in Table 2.

Table 2
Comparison of Common CHB with that of CHB with Sugarcane Ash
as to Compressive Strength Test

Trial

Percentage of
sugarcane ash

#1

0%

#2

20%

Result of
Compressive
Strength Test
kg
psi
MPa
2000 155.9
7
5000 389.9

Curing
Days

1.08

2.69

2
The

above

table

indicates

that

the

result

of

the

compressive strength having no sugarcane ash requires lesser

force (2,000 kg) to break the specimen. The specimen having
20%

sugarcane

ash

needs

5,000

kg-force.

Comparing

the

compressive strength of the two specimens, the common CHB

has 155.97 psi or 1.08 MPa while specimen with 20% sugarcane
ash has 389.92 psi or 2.69 MPa.
From

the

table,

it

is

clear

that

the

addition

of

sugarcane ash in plain concrete increases its strength under

30

compression. Hence, inclusion of sugarcane ash can be very

effective admixture to concrete hollow blocks
2.2 Block Density
In determining the

block

density

of

particular

specimen, it should be dried in constant mass in a suitable

oven heated to approximately 10000C and cooling the specimen
to room temperature. The dimensions of each specimen shall
be measured in meters to the nearest centimeter and the
overall volume must be computed in cubic meters. The block
shall be weighed in kilograms to the nearest ten grams. The
density of each block calculated as follows:
m
Density = v

in

kg
m3

The concrete block density can range from less than 85

pounds

per

cubic

foot

(pcf)

to

more

than

140

pcf.

The

following load bearings must be considered:

Load bearing CHB = 140 -150 pcf

Load

bearing

properties

all

concrete

masonry

units

regardless of density must conform to ASTM C 90. Units must

have minimum compressive unit strength of 1900 psi (31.1
MPa).

31

Lower

density

units

reduce

the

dead

load

on

supporting

beams, columns & foundation of structure. This is especially

important in mid-rise or high rise structures. Lower density
units also reduce inertia of masonry wall, which improves
the buildings seismic performance and makes masonry a more
structurally efficient material.

High density (HD) concrete blocks provide protection for a

range of scenarios. They are made to site-specific special
requirements

for

gamma

and

neutron

radiation

with

five

standard densities. In new construction or room upgrades,

the

interlocking

integrity.
solution

High
for

design

of

density

HD

block

concrete

therapeutic

ensures

blocks

modalities

are

shielding
an

including

ideal
linear

accelerators, proton therapy, and HDR rooms, as well as

industrial applications requiring shielding materials. They
can

be

utilized

for

maze

walls

and

complete

vault

construction with or without mortar, depending on physic

requirement and construction design

High density concrete is a very cost effective solution to

lead brick shielding that would normally be used in new or
upgraded

construction

linear

accelerator

or

rooms.

It

significant reduces the amount of shielding necessary to

32

obtain

the

desired

protection

levels.

The

comparison

of

common CHB with that of CHB with sugarcane ash as to block

density was presented in Table 3.

Table 3
Comparison of Common CHB with that of CHB with Sugarcane Ash
as to Block Density

Group
Classificatio
n

Percentage of
sugarcane ash
to cement

Mass
(kg)

Volume
m3

Block
Density
Kg/m3

Control Group

0%

8.5

4.65 x 10-3

1825.38

Experimental
Group

20%

8.1

4.65 x 10-3

1739.48

It can be gleaned from the table that the experimental

group having 20% sugarcane ash has a lower block density of
1,739.48

kg/m3

when

compared

to

the

control

group

(no

sugarcane ash) of 1,825.38 block density. It means to say

that the experimental group can reduce inertia of masonry
wall that can improve the structures seismic performance
and makes masonry a more structurally efficient material.
2.3 Water Absorption

33

The researchers also tested their samples in accordance

to ASTM D570 commonly known as Water Absorption Test. It
is observed in Table 4 that the hollow blocks produced with
sugarcane

ash

showed

low

water

absorption

(9.88%),

when

compared to the control ones (11.76%).

The result of the study signifies that very low water
absorption offers stronger resistance to water leakage and
also withstand adverse weather condition. Hence, the use of
sugarcane ash in concrete hollow blocks is very effective in
filling

the

capillary

spaces,

improving

the

mechanical

strength and impermeability of the matrix (ASTM C55-11[2]).

The following formula was used by the researchers in order
to

determine

the

water

absorption

of

the

control

and

experimental group.

water absorption ( )=

wet massdry mass

x 100
Dry mass

Table 4
Comparison of Common CHB with that of CHB with Sugarcane Ash
as to Water Absorption

Trial

Percent of
sugarcane

Wet
Mass

Dry Mass
(kg)

Water
Absorption

34

Group A
Control
Group
Group B
Experimental
Group

ash present

(kg)

(%)

0%

9.5

8.5

11.76

20%

8.9

8.1

9.88

2.4 Economic value

As of February 1, 2014 cement manufacturers already
implemented prices which ranges from 214-220 Php per 40 kg.
bag of cement. Which means, if we replace 20% of the actual
volume of cement with ash, we actually saving 20% of the
actual price of the cement per 40 kg. bag. And that saves 44
php which is economically
Concrete

Hollow

Block

with

sugarcane

ash

is

more

economical because of the following factor:

Waste are being use

Has more strength in resisting pressure
Using of cement will be less
It is economical and environmental friendly

3. Sufficiency of Sugarcane Ash as an Additive to Cement Mix

to the demand of production of concrete hollow blocks

The Philippines is considered the 9th largest sugar producer
in the world and 2nd largest sugar producer among the ASEAN

35

countries second to Thailand according to Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division.

At least 17 provinces located in 8 regions of the

Philippine archipelago have grown sugarcane crops, of which
Negros

island

production.

accounts

As

of

for

Crop

half

Year

of

the

2009-2010,

countrys
29

total

mills

are

operational divided as follows: 6 mills in Luzon, 13 mills

in Negros, 4 mills in Panay, 3 mills in Eastern Visayas and
3 mills in Mindanao.
Most

of

these

mills

are

located

in

the

island

of

Negros. Sugarcane is not a sensitive crop and can be grown

on almost all type of soils, from sandy loams to clay loams
and from acidic volcanic soils to calcareous sedimentary
deposits. The harvest period begins from October to December
and ends in May.
So that in this case, the production of sugarcane in
the Philippines would be sufficient for producing Concrete
Hollow Blocks with sugarcane ash which will help us in
minimizing the usage of cement.