The potential of rice husk ash (Rha) and coconut fiber (Cf) as partial replacement of

cement
N. Tutur, and R. N. H. R. M. Noor

Citation: AIP Conference Proceedings 2020, 020061 (2018); doi: 10.1063/1.5062687

View online: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5062687
View Table of Contents: http://aip.scitation.org/toc/apc/2020/1
Published by the American Institute of Physics

Articles you may be interested in

Failure modes of insulated sandwich panel under reversible cyclic loading
AIP Conference Proceedings 2020, 020041 (2018); 10.1063/1.5062667

Major challenges to improve the performance of construction waste management process: A case study in Klang
Valley
AIP Conference Proceedings 2020, 020054 (2018); 10.1063/1.5062680

The methods of waste quantification in the construction sites (A review)

AIP Conference Proceedings 2020, 020056 (2018); 10.1063/1.5062682

On the usage of KAP in analyzing the barriers in practicing green construction in Malaysia
AIP Conference Proceedings 2020, 020060 (2018); 10.1063/1.5062686

Geotechnical analysis on vulnerable characteristic of limestone residual soil to sinkhole hazard

AIP Conference Proceedings 2020, 020002 (2018); 10.1063/1.5062628

Quasi-static resonant column (QSRC) method for indirect assesment of natural weathered rock joint surface
AIP Conference Proceedings 2020, 020009 (2018); 10.1063/1.5062635
 The Potential of Rice Husk Ash (Rha) and Coconut Fiber
(Cf) as Partial Replacement of Cement
N. Tutur1, a) and R. N. H. R. M. Noor1
1
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Mara Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 13500 Permatang Pauh, Pulau
Pinang.
a)
nuraini.tutur@ppinang.uitm.edu.my

Abstract. Concrete is one of the significant element uses. in the field of construction. Through environment concern, the
studies of recycling and utilizing the agricultural or industrial wastes material to be used in a concrete as replacement or
admixtures has been established. This study is focusing on the utilization of rice husk ash (RHA) together with a coconut
fiber (CF) as partial cement replacement of concrete. The purpose is to determine the strength and durability of concrete
grade 30 when the combination of RHA and CF takes place in producing concrete. Coir has partially replace the cement
weight by 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% while RHA replace the cement by 9%, 18%, 27% and 36% of the cement weight. The
strength and durability will only be test after 7 and 28 days of curing. The composition of 1% of coconut fiber and 9% of
RHA gives the maximum compressive strength in 7 days which is 38.12 N/mm2.The rate of water absorption for
concrete is increase with the increment of percentage of coconut fiber and RHA content. At 7 days, the increment rate of
water absorption was 1.56%, 2.11%, 7.31% and 10.33%, while at 28 days the increment rate ware 1.52%, 1.85%, 6.54%
and 9.91% both for the 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% cement replacement respectively. The water absorption rate for 7 and
28 days are 2.95% and 2.18% respectively.

INTRODUCTION
Cement and concrete production consumes enormous amounts of natural resources and aggregates, thereby
causing substantial energy and environmental losses. This production also contributes significantly to the emission
of carbon dioxide, a naturally occurring greenhouse gas. Adjustments and improvements to the present concrete
making methods are essential in order to address these environmental and economic issues. This has encouraged
researchers in the area of concrete engineering and technology to investigate and identify supplementary by-product
materials that can be used as substitutes for constituent materials in concrete production. The beneficial effects of
some of these materials on the properties of concrete have further enhanced these efforts. In most of the countries,
different cementitious materials such as Fly-Ash, Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag (GGBS), Silica Fume and
Rice Husk Ash (RHA) to achieve high performance, good quality and low cost concrete mixtures. RHA is a bye-
product of paddy industry obtained by controlled burning of rice husk and is a highly reactive pozzolanic material.
On the other hand coir (coconut fiber) has excellent physical and mechanical properties and can be utilized more
effectively in the development of composite materials. Waste materials such as Rice Husk have great potential to be
used as building materials. The high silica content from Rice Husk Ash has pozzolanic behaviour which influence
the concrete strength [1]. Coconut fiber (cocos nucifera) or coir is a type of natural fiber use in concrete production
either as cement or fine aggregate replacement in order to enhance the strength of concrete. Due to increasing cost of
cement, it becomes an obstacle to construction industries in the developing countries. To overcome this problem,
many researchers have used the coconut fiber (CF) as partial replacement of cement which reduces the use of
conventional cement and cost of concrete as well [2]. On the other hand, the usage of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as a
cementitious material also have been used widely in concrete production by replacing cement since it contains of
pozzolanic characteristics which results from controlled burning of rice husk. The study found by Magnani et al.,
[3], about 78% of weight from paddy milling are receive as broken rice and bran while the rest 22% are receive as

Advances in Civil Engineering and Science Technology

AIP Conf. Proc. 2020, 020061-1–020061-6; https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5062687
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-1738-0/$30.00

020061-1
husk. About 75% of husk is burnt up and produce organic volatile matter and 25% is converted into ash result from
firing process which then produces the rice husk ash (RHA). The wastage is often being dumping in the open
thereby impacting the environment which also can result in pollution. Therefore, by utilizing the RHA and coconut
fibre as cement replacement will help to save the environment.
Use of these materials in concrete is not only improves the strength of concrete but also leads to the proper
disposal of these materials, resulting in reducing the impact of these materials on environment. It is found that the
rice husk ash is obtained by burning of rice husk in a controlled way,which is highly reactive pozzolonic material
and the coir having excellent mechanical and physical properties to be utilized in effective way in developement of
composite materials.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The concrete with pozzolanic materials are very durable and strong enough to be used as structural element. The
study found by Mauro et al.,[4] stated that RHA is highly reactive pozzolanic materials that suitable for Portland
cement replacement. The amount of non-crystalline silica content as well as the surface area of RHA are the factors
that producing high pozzolanic reaction in materials since the size of particles for RHA are more tiny compare to
Portland cement. Therefore, it can provide finer pore structure during mixing process and can be filled between the
cement particles [5]. According to research done by Kartini [6], in order for the materials to be classified as
pozzolan, it should have silicon dioxide (SiO2) for at least 70% and loss of ignition (LOI) for at most 6%. In
addition, the other chemical composition contain in RHA and Portland cement are slightly different from each other
which some of that composition have significant effect on determination of pozzolan material.
Ali [7], in his research found that coconut fiber was used like fabrics to provide firm support onto the soil. The
support comes in number of form such as matting, rolls and logs used for soil stabilization. Another application of
coconut fiber is as railway cutting and embankments, protection of water courses, reinforcement of temporary walls
and rural unpaved roads, providing a sub base layer in road pavements, containment of soil and concrete as
temporary seeding and highway cut and fills. Research found by Kartini [6], the pozzolanic properties in concrete
not only efficient in high replacement level of RHA but also improved the workability of concrete at low
replacement and with low carbon content. Physical properties in concrete such as bleeding and segregation are
reduced, and due to its fineness the concrete shows better bond strength compared to OPC alone [8, 6, 11]. Lower
permeability and less calcium hydroxide content in production RHA concrete will benefits on high resistance to
chemical attack in a long term. Also, low diffusion rate of chloride ion in RHA resists the steel reinforcement
corrosion in concrete [8, 6]. Significantly, all those benefits are affecting on material cost reduction due to cement
saving and contribute to green environment .

METHODOLOGY
The rice husk ash (RHA) was directly obtained from the Bernas Rice Mill located at Paya Keladi, Kepala Batas.
The coconut fiber (CF) was obtained from coconut supplier in Bukit Mertajam. For the purpose of cement
replacement, the RHA was sieve passing through 85µm to achieve the appropriate size. The coir was oven dried at
80oC for 5 hours before cutting and grinding process. Four batches of RHA + CF were prepared with different
percentages of RHA + CF replacing cement, which is 10%,20%,30% and 40%. Other materials used in the concrete
mixture were Portland cement-Type I, granite coarse aggregate of 20 mm maximum size and mining sand of 5 mm
maximum size as fine aggregate. The fineness modulus for the coarse aggregate and fine aggregate were 2.43 and
4.61 respectively. These concrete specimens were casted in cube moulds with dimension 100x100x100mm. Another
batch of conrol specimens was prepared for this study without adding RHA or CF in the mix propotion. The control
OPC concrete was designed to achieve 30 N/mm2 using the DOE method. Based on this, 325 kgm-3 of the cement
content was adopted for all mixes. The water to cementitious material ratio (w/b) of the control mix was 0.63 with a
slump of about 40 mm to 50 mm.The concrete specimens were remoulded and cured under the water curing
condition after 24 hours of casting. The compressive strength test was done by following the British Standard (BS
1881: Part 116: 1983, BS EN 12390-3: 2002) for normal concrete and the combination of RHA and coconut fiber
concrete. A total 60 specimens were tested for compressive strength by using compression testing machine after the
curing process at 7 and 28 days.The other specimens was tested for water absorption at the age of 7 and 28 days.
The water absorption tests was conducted in accordance to BS 1881-122:1983. A total 60 specimen were tested after
the curing process at 7 and 28 days. The specimens were taking out from the curing tank and oven dried to constant

020061-2
mass at 105±5 oC for 72±2 hours and then stored in air tight containers before subjects to testing. The concrete
specimens are weighing before immersion and after immersion for 30 minutes within 4 hours interval.

FINDINGS
The study done by Domke [9] stated that the strength of concrete will increase with the increasing percentage of
RHA and the addition of coconut fiber will overcome the decreasing strength of concrete once it has achieved the
optimum strength. It was observed that at 7 days, the concrete strength for CF1+RHA9 gives the maximum strength
result 38.12 N/mm2 compare to control OPC 28.86 N/mm2. The variation mixes of CF and RHA gives different
results as the maximum strength reached at concrete with 10% of cement replacement and continue to decrease
when the 20% replacement takes place. The detail results were tabulated and represent in the Table 1 and Figure 1
below.

TABLE 1. Compressive Strength of Concrete in Various Mixes

7 days 28 days
Mixture Percentage Percentage
Compressive Compressive
designation increase/decrease increase/decrease
strength strength
compared to control compared to control
(N/mm2) (N/mm2)
sample (%) sample (%)
OPC 28.86 - 35.09 -
32.09 12.00
CF1 + RHA9 38.12 30.88
(increase) (decrease)
25.64 18.81
CF2 + RHA18 36.26 28.49
(decrease) (decrease)
58.56 82.96
CF3 + RHA27 11.96 5.98
(decrease) (decrease)
88.84 95.44
CF4 + RHA36 3.22 1.60
(decrease) (decrease)

Table 1 above shows the result on compressive strength of concrete on 7 and 28 days. The strength of CF and
RHA concrete were compared to control OPC. Results show, at 7 days the strength of control OPC was as
mentioned earlier. While for 28 days, the strength of concrete for control OPC is 35.09 N/mm2. The CF and RHA
concrete presented in CF1 + RHA9, CF2 + RHA18, CF3 + RHA27, CF4 + RHA36 give the strength of 38.12
N/mm2, 36.26 N/mm2, 11.96 N/mm2, and 3.22 N/mm2 respectively for the ages of 7 days. While for 28 days, the
strength for CF1 + RHA9, CF2 + RHA18, CF3 + RHA27, CF4 + RHA36 concrete are 30.88 N/mm2, 28.49 N/mm2,
5.98 N/mm2 and 1.60 N/mm2 respectively.
The data above indicated the percentage increase and decrease of compressive strength of CF and RHA concrete
compare to control OPC. For 10% combination of CF and RHA cement replacement at 7 days, the percentage
strength increase by 32.09% while for 20%, 30% and 40% replacement, the percentage strength decrease
continuously by 25.64%, 58.56% and 88.84% respectively. At the ages of 28 day, the percentage strength of CF and
RHA concrete was decreased compare to control OPC. The percentage decreased for 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%
replacement was 12.00%, 18.81%, 82.96% and 95.44% respectively. Theoretically, the results show that the
percentage reduction strength of concrete was increase with the increasing percentage of CF and RHA replacement.

020061-3
 Compressive Strength vs Percentage of RHA and CF
Replacement
7 days 28 days
Compressive Strength (N/mm^2)

50
40
30
20
10
0
OPC CF1+RHA9 CF2+RHA18 CF3+RHA27 CF4+RHA36

Percentage of CF and RHA Replacement (%)

FIGURE1. Compressive Strength of OPC and CF+RHA Concrete Grade 30

The result was then presented graphically in Figure 1 to analyze the relationship between compressive strength
of concrete with various percentage of cement replacement of CF and RHA. At 7 days, the graph shows the
strength of concrete was greatly increased at 10% and 20% of replacement compare to control OPC, but the
strength was decrease at 30% and 40% replacement. The optimum compressive strength of concrete for 7 day ages
was at 10% replacement which is 38.12 N/mm2 while the lowest value of compressive strength was at 40% with
the strength 3.22 N/mm2. At 28 days ages, the concrete did not show any strength increment compare to control
OPC and continue to decrease at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% replacement. Therefore, control OPC has the highest
compressive strength for 28 days which is 35.09 N/mm2 while the lowest strength is at 40% replacement which is
1.60 N/mm2. The result can be considered acceptable for 10% and 20% replacement as the strength are well above
and nearly to target strength of concrete grade 30.
Finding in [8] stated that the compressive strength of concrete cubes was decreased as the increasing percentage
replacement of CF and RHA. It is nearly similar to this finding, where the graph shows the decreasing pattern
along the percentage increment. According to [10], the addition or replacement of coconut fiber in concrete will
only increase the voids between cement and aggregate thus result in lowest compressive strength. Although the
compressive strength of concrete seems below the target strength of 30 N/mm2, there still have the concrete that
achieved the strength grade 30. The combination of CF and RHA concrete shows the strength well above grade 30
by 10% and 20% replacement at early 7 day ages. The specimens was tested by using water absorption test which
the purpose to determine the rate of water absorb into the concrete when different percentage of RHA and CF are
used compare to control OPC. The increasing weights of the concrete after being immersed in water will determine
the rate of water absorption of concrete thus indicate the concrete durability towards long term uses. The results for
water absorption rate were presented and tabulated in the Table 2.

TABLE 2. Rate of Water Absorption

Water Absorption Rate (%)

Mixture designation
7 days 28 days
OPC 2.95 2.18
CF1 + RHA9 1.56 1.52
CF2 + RHA18 2.11 1.85
CF3 + RHA27 7.31 6.54
CF4 + RHA36 10.33 9.91

020061-4
 Table 2 shows the result for water absorption rate for various percentage mixes at the ages 7 and 28 days. The
combination of CF and RHA concrete at 30% and 40% replacement has the higher rate of water absorption. The rate
at 7 days for 30% and 40% replacement are 7.31% and 10.33% respectively while at 28 days the rate are 6.54% and
9.91% respectively. The concrete with 10% and 20% replacement shows the lower rate of water absorption for both
7 and 28 days. Water absorption rate for 10% and 20% replacement at 7 days are 1.56% and 2.11% respectively,
while at 28 days the water absorption rate shows the rate of 1.52% and 1.85% respectively. Meanwhile, for control
OPC the water absorption rate for 7 and 28 days are 2.95% and 2.18% appropriately. The water absorption of 30%
and 40% partial replacement concrete presented by CF3 + RHA27 and CF4 + RHA36 has the higher rate of water
absorption compared to control OPC while 10% and 20% partial replacement concrete presented by CF1 + RHA9
and CF2 + RHA18 has the lower rate of water absorption when compared to control OPC.

Water Absorption Rate Vs. Curing Days

12
Water Absorption Rate (%)

10
OPC
8
6 CF1+RHA9
4 CF2+RHA18
2
0 CF3+RHA27
7 28 CF4+RHA36
Curing Days

FIGURE 2. Water absorption rate of OPC and RHA+CF concrete

Figure 2 above represent the increasing and decreasing of water absorption rate for concrete with and without
percentage cement replacement. The trend of graph at early stages are decrease which the control OPC has higher
water absorption compare to 10% and 20% partial replacement of concrete at 7 and 28 days. The concrete with 10%
replacement represent 1% of coconut fiber (CF) and 9% of RHA as partial replacement of the concrete, while 20%
represent 2% of coconut fiber and 18% of RHA. The decreasing rate of water absorption compare to control OPC is
due to reduction of particle sizes of pozzolanic material when the chemical reaction between cement and RHA has
begun. The reduction causes RHA to fill up the spaces in the concrete thus reduce its permeability[6]. Moreover,
the percentage of coconut fiber as partial cement replacement at the early stages did not contribute to the decreasing
rate of water absorption. The trend of graph was then increase after 30% and 40% of partial replacement concrete
takes place. Concrete with 30% and 40% cement replacement represent 3% of coconut fiber combine with 27% of
RHA and 4% of coconut fiber combine with 36% of rha respectively. The reason for increasing rate of water
absorption compare to control opc is due to increasing percentage of cf together with RHA replacement. The coir
has absorbent characteristics that will dry up the water in the concrete and may increase the spaces between voids of
the concrete due to increasing percentage up to 4% cement replacement. Besides, the combination of RHA that has
more than 20% replacement may not contribute to any reduction of water absorption due to its particle sizes.

020061-5
 CONCLUSION
The findings of experimental investigation on the water absorption of concrete containing RHA and CF as partial
cement replacement are outlined as follows :
i. The strength development of concrete grade 30 is applicable for concrete with 10% and 20% of cement
replacement by CF and RHA.
ii. The compressive strength of concrete is decrease with the increase CF and RHA content. The concrete
strength of 7 days ages show the most satisfactory result as the strength for 10% and 20% of replacement is
well above the target strength.
iii. The replacement of cement in concrete by 30% and 40% give lower compressive strength at 7 and 28 days.
iv. As the content of CF and RHA replacement passes 20%, the water absorption rate becomes higher due to
increasing voids in the concrete itself.
v. The water absorption rate for control OPC is higher compare to concrete with 10% and 20% cement
replacement.
vi. The coconut fiber and RHA are both classify as protein base so they have more absorption features.

Further areas of research are recommended particularly Further investigations are requied to emphasize on other
mechanical properties such as flexural, splitting tensile and durability of the block i.e. sulfate resistance, thermal
insulation, deformations characteristics of masonry and various on mortar properties study.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors would like to acknowledge Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) for financial support in this
research work.

REFERENCES
1. A. S. Wahyuni, FepySupriani, Elhusna, A. Gunawan, “The Performance Of Concrete With Rice Husk Ash, Sea
Shell Ash And Bamboo Fiber Addition”, Procedia Engineering 95 (2014) 473 – 478, 2014.
2. P. V. Domke, “Improvement in The Strength of Concrete by Using Industrial and Agricultural Waste”, 2(4),
755–759, 2012.
3. C. D. Magnani, H. S. Shah, J. J. Lad, & V. N. Patel, “Review Article A Review on Compressive and Tensile
Strength of Concrete Containing Rice Husk Ash and Coir Fiber”, 2, pg. 750–754, 2014.
4. M. T. Mauro, A. R. S. Carlos, L. A. Jorge, & B. B. Michele, “The Possibility of Adding the Rice Husk Ash
(RHA) to The Concrete”, (1), pg. 0–9, 2004.
5. S. Singh, & D. Kumar, “Alternate and Low Cost Construction Material : Rice Husk Ash ( RHA ) Cement :
1(6)”, pg. 214–217, 2014.
6. K. Kartini, “Rice Husk Ash-Pozzolanic Material for Sustainability”, International Journal of Applied Science
and Technology, 1(6), pg. 169–178, 2011.
7. M. Ali, “Coconut fibre: A Versatile Material And Its Applications In Engineering”, Second International
Conference on Sustainable Construction and Technologies 2(9), 189–197, 2011.
8. E. Vigneshkumar, & E. Kayathri, “Experimental Investigation on Concrete by Using Rice Husk Ash and Coir
Fibre”, 2(1), 323–329, 2014.
9. P. V. Domke, S. D. Deshmukh, R. S. Deotale, “Study of Various Characteristic of Concrete with Rice Husk
Ash As A Partial Replacement Of Cement With Natural Fibers ( Coir )”, 1(3), 554–562, 2011.
10. P. P. Yalley and Kwan, “Use Of Coconut Fibre As An Enhancement Of Concrete”, Journal of Engineering and
Technology 3, Pages 54-73, 2009.
11. J. Jay, A. R. Darji, K. B. Parikh, “Strength and Durability Study of Concrete by Using Rice Husk Ash and
Coconut Fiber”, International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; Volume 5 Issue VII, Pages 1834-1847, 2017.
12. T. Baviskar, S. Waikar, S. Bankar,O. Phulari,Y. Jadhav, “Use Of Natural Waste (Rha & Coir Fibers) For
Concrete Pavements”, International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), pages 3713 –
3715, 2018.

020061-6