29-10-2014, 10:06 AM
Abstracts: This project seeks to optimize the benefits of using fly ash in concrete as a replacement for large proportions of cement. For a variety of reasons, the concrete construction industry is not sustainable. First, it consumes huge quantities of virgin materials. Second, the principal binder in concrete is portland cement, the production of which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions that are implicated in global warming and climate change. Third, many concrete structures suffer from lack of durability which has an adverse effect on the resource productivity of the industry. Because the high-volume fly ash concrete system addresses all three sustainability issues, its adoption will enable the concrete construction industry to become more sustainable. This project describes early stages of a project to study the use of large volumes of fly ash in concrete. During the project fly ash obtained from a local power plant will be used in the concrete tests. Varying amounts of fly ash will be used in given mixes of concrete as a partial replacement of the cement and fine aggregate. Several design mixes will be prepared, cured and tested for their compressive and bond strengths, and durability properties. Each compressive strength sample will be tested at 7, 14, and 28 days. The results will be analyzed and compared with standard concrete and conclusions made on how best the fly ash can be utilized to give optimum results. By mixing the fly ash into the normal concrete, the durability and strength of concrete can be improved. The evaluation of higher strength in form of compressive strength and flexural strength will be done.