Mechanical Performance of Palm Oil Fuel Ash Blended Concrete for Sustainable Construction
Abstract
The increasing cost of cement and CO2 gas emissions associated with its usage and production has led to the search
for an alternative binder for sustainable environment. This research examines the mechanical performance of palm
oil fuel ash (POFA) as binder in concrete for sustainable construction. Ninety (90Nos) cubes (150mm), Ninety (90Nos)
cylinders (300mmlong × 150mmdia) and Seventy-two (72Nos) beams (750mm × 150mm × 150mm) specimens were
produced at varying POFA percentage replacement of 0 -50% at 10% interval with a water to cement ratio of 0.55
and a mix ratio of 1:1.5:3. Physical properties, chemical compositions and mechanical properties were investigated
at the fresh and hardened stages. Coefficient Equations Approach method was used for predicting the mechanical
performance of POFA blended concrete. The results showed that palm oil fuel ash exhibited some pozzolanic
properties and can be classified as class N pozzolan. The degree of workability increases gradually as the POFA
increased from 0 to 50% replacement level. High strength was recorded at 10% replacement in all mechanical tests
carried out. At 10% replacement of POFA, compressive strength value of 30.2N/mm2 was recorded which was higher
than the control specimen having 24.2N/mm2. At 28-day, the tensile strength of the concrete at 10% was
2.88N/mm2 and 2.2N/mm² for control and for flexural strengths 10% replacement with POFA gave a strength of
4.85N/mm² compared to 3.9 N/mm² of control specimens. Further increase in POFA replacement resulted in
declined strengths. The developed models were in good agreement with the experimental data. This research work
has led to the creation of POFA blended concrete which can be used in Civil Engineering construction works
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