PERTANDINGAN REKA CIPTA KEJURUTERAAN

DAN INOVASI SAINS INTEL 2006

THE EFFECT OF RICE HUSK ASH ON

STRENGTH AND PERMEABILITY OF
CONCRETE
MOHD KHALID BIN KARSIMEN
(6217) OF
MALAY COLLEGE KUALA KANGSAR

Introduction
The

production of cement is costly, consumes

high energy, depletes natural resources and
emits huge amounts of greenhouse gases (1 ton
of cement production emits approximately 1 ton
of
CO2).
Consequently,
environmental
degradation, pollution and health hazards
problems associated with cement industries,
have come under scrutiny.

So,

now a days many people are trying to use

industrial and agricultural wastes in concrete.
These
wastes
otherwise
pose
several
environmental problems.

Objectives
To

investigate
compressive
strength
properties of concrete containing different
percentage of Rice Husk Ash
To investigate the permeability properties of
concrete containing different percentage of
Rice Husk Ash
To determine the optimal replacement of
cement with Rice Husk Ash, by comparing
the results of compressive strength and
permeability tests.

Methodology (Detail of Tests)

Name
of test

Size of
specim
en
(mm)

No. of
mix

No. of
specim
en for
each
mix

Compressi
4 (0%,
6 (3-7
ve
150150 15%, 25%, Days, 3-28
strength
150
35%)
Days)
test
Permeabilit 150x150x1
4 (0%,
6 (3-7
y Test
50
15%, 25%, Days, 3-28

Total
no. of
specim
en
24

24

Methodology

All
the
specimen
were cast
with
M25
mix

The
specimen
were taken
out
from
the mould
after
24
hours and
cured
for
7/28 days.

Specimen
of
cubes
were
tested
for
Compressiv
e Strength
and
Coefficient
of
Permeability
and the final
results
were
analysed
to
find
the
optimal
percentage
replacement
of
cement
with Rice Husk
Ash (RHA)

Material used in the

experimental investigation
Cement
Water
Coarse Sand
Rice Husk
Ash
Coarse
Aggregate

Continue..
Ordinary Portland Cement of grade 43
(source J.K Cement)
Rice Husk Ash used in the study has been
obtained from NK Enterprises, Singhania
House, Jharsuguda, Orissa, India
Water- Tap
masonry

water

was

used

in

concrete

Rice Husk
Ash

OPC

Fine
Aggregates

Coarse
Aggregates

Rice Husk Ash

Rice husk is one of the main agricultural residues

obtained from the outer covering of rice grains during
the milling process. Rice Husk Ash is obtained from
burning of Rice Husk, which is the by-product of rice
milling. It is estimated that 1,000 kg of rice grain
produce 200 kg of Rice Husk after burn.

The rice husk ash had no useful application and had

usually been dumped into water streams and caused
pollution until it was known to be a useful mineral
admixture for concrete.

Test on cement
Standard Consistency of the cement
paste = 29.5
Initial setting time of cement =
115min
Final setting time of cement =
Test on fine
220min
Specific
gravity of cement = 3.38
aggregates
Fineness modulus of fine aggregates
=2.50
Specific gravity of fine aggregates=
2.65Test on coarse

aggregates

Specific gravity of coarse

aggregates= 2.61
Fineness modulus of coarse

Mix Design for M25 Grade Concrete

Table of final mix

proportion (Wt. in
Kg)/m3 concrete

Fine
Coarse
Water
Cement Aggrega Aggrega Cement
te
te
ratio

1.3

2.9

0.45

Preparation, casting and curing

of concrete cubes

Testing Methods
Compressive
strength test

Cube failure after

compression test

Compression testing
machine

Permeability
Permeability

of concrete generally refers to

the rate at which water or other aggressive
substance (sulphates, chlorides ions, etc.)
can penetrate concrete.

Low

permeability of concrete to moisture and

gas is the first line of defence against: frost
damage, acid attack, sulphate attack,
corrosion
of
steel
embedment
and
reinforcements,
carbonation,
alkaliaggregate reaction, and efflorescence.

Methods For Testing

Permeability
(IS 3085:1965)
Constant flow Method
Darcys law has been used to determine the co-efficient
of permeability.
The equation used is
Ks=

Where,
Q
A
L
H

Ks - Coefficient of saturated permeability (m/s)

- Volume of flow rate (m3/s)
-Cross-sectional area (m2)
-Specimen thickness in the direction of flow (m)
- Head of water causing flow (m)

Permeability test

Permeability apparatus

Air
Chamber

Permeability mould

Water
reservoir and
pressure

Continue

Typical Details of
Permeability Cell

Permeability test Set-Up (Schematic)

Sealing of specimen

(1) Filling pieces of jute rope

(3) Filling Epoxy injection grout

(2) Filling mixture of lac & wax

(4) Applying Sikadur 31

Leakage testing & Running the test

Fill the water reservoir and apply the desired pressure

(10 Kg/cm2) and note the initial gauge reading.
After steady state of flow is reached, put the empty
beaker below the mould and note the time and
pressure on the gauge
Note the discharge passed in a particular time
interval and at an average pressure on gauge.
From the Darcy's law find the coefficient of
permeability.

Result and Discussion

Values of Compressive Strength (7-days curing)
Type of
Mix

RHA (Kg)

OPC (Kg)

Compressi

Average

Percentage

ve

Compress

Improvement

Strength

ive

w.r.t. M0 Mix

(MPa)

Strength
(MPa)

19.84
M0

21.24

(0%)

20.56

20.55

----

24.92

17.54

22.44

8.42

18.08

-13.66

24.40
M1

24.91

(15%)

25.46
24.76

M2

21.05

(25%)

21.50
19.00

M3

18.10

(35%)

17.16

Continue
Values of Compressive Strength (28-days curing)
Type of
Mix

RHA (%)

Compression

Average

Ratio of

Percentage

Strength

Strength

RHAC/OPC

Improvement

(MPa)

(MPa)

w.r.t. OPC

33.41
M0

0%

31.23

31.64

----

----

34.61

1.09

8.58

32.78

1.03

3.47

29.65

0.93

-6.71

30.30
34.26
M1

15%

34.56
35.00
33.35

M2

25%

33.20
31.80
30.20

M3

35%

29.78
28.98

Compressive Strength of
different mixes (7 & 28 days)
40
34.61

35

32.78

31.64

29.65

30
24.92

25

22.44
20.55

20
Compressive
Strength (MPa)

18.08

28
days

15

10

7 days

M0

M1

Concrete Mix

M2

M3

Permeability test results

Values of coefficient of permeability for 7-days water
curing
Mix

Discharge

Time

Head of

Co-efficient of

Avg.

Sampl

Q (ml)

T (Hrs)

water

permeability,

K(m/sec) X

H (m)

K(m/sec) X 10-12

10-12

68.67

23.97

25.01

71.12

26.04

73.58

16.78

76.03

18.94

66.22

10.88

78.48

13.11

68.67

22.47

73.58

22.37

M0

16

18

18
M1

12

18

14
M2

18

10
M3

15
16

18

17.86

12.00

22.42

Coefficient of permeability of RHAC at 7-days water

curing

30

25

25.01
22.42

20
17.86

Coefficient15
of Permeability (10-12 m/s)
12
10

M0

M1

M2

Concrete Mix

M3

Continue
Values of coefficient of permeability for 28-days
water curing
Mix

Discharge

Time

Head of

Co-efficient of

Avg.

Sampl

Q (ml)

T (Hrs)

water

permeability,

K(m/sec) X

H (m)

K(m/sec) X 10-12

10-12

63.77

12.91

14.52

63.77

16.13

68.67

8.99

71.12

10.13

73.58

5.6

71.12

5.77

66.22

13.98

68.67

12.0

M0

18

10
M1

18

7
M2

18

4
M3

9
8

18

9.56

5.69

13.00

Coefficient of permeability of
RHAC at 28-days water curing
16
14.52
14

13

12
9.56

10

Coefficient 8of Permeability (10-12 m/s)

5.69

6
4
2
0

M0

M1

M2

Concrete Mix

M3

Coefficient of Permeability of all

mixes at both 7 and 28-days
water curing
30

25

25.01
22.42

20
17.86
14.52

15
Coefficient
of Permeability (10-12 m/s)

13

12

28 days

9.56

10

5.69
5

M0

M1

Concrete Mixes

7 days

M2

M3

Permeability of concrete is influenced

primarily by following factors:
The

nature of the hardened cement paste

Porosity and interconnectivity of pores in the
cement paste and micro-cracks in the
concrete.
w/c ratio
Degree of hydration
The degree of compaction
The type and quantity of constituent
materials. (fine cement tends to reduce
permeability, well graded aggregate tends to
decrease permeability)

Conclusions
The coefficient of permeability of RHAC is
significantly lower than that of OPC for all percent
changes.
The coefficient of permeability of RHAC decreases
for 15 % & 25 % replacement but it starts increasing
at 35% replacement for cement.
The permeability of OPC and RHAC decreases with
increase in curing period of samples.
The addition of RHA had a significant effect on the
compressive strength of concrete. Compressive
strength of concrete increases with the addition of
RHA upto a certain level, after which it decreases.
Optimal cement replacement level (by RHA) is 25%,
for which the compressive strength is maximum.

Continue.
The

compressive strength is maximum at 15%

replacement and then it starts decreasing for both
7 and 28 days cured specimens.
With 25% replacement the compressive strength of
cubes is nearly equal but slightly above then the
OPC mix concrete specimens, but at 35%
replacement the strength is less then the OPC mix
for both 7 and 28 days cubes.
The compressive strength of OPC & RHAC increases
with increase in curing period of samples.
The permeability of all mixes decreases with
increase in compressive strength as compared to
control concrete mix accept at 25% replacement.

Continue.
The

results obtained from this study

indicates that up to 25% of RHA could be
advantageously
blended
with
cement
without adversely affecting the strength and
permeability properties of concrete.