ASSESSING THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY OF CONCRETE WITH PARTIAL CEMENT REPLACEMENT BY RICE HUSK ASH (RHA) UNDER HYDROCHLORIC ACID EXPOSURE

U. A. Hassan, E.E. Ndububa, Oseni W. W. Olumide, M.U. Agaba, M.A. Usman

Abstract


This study evaluated the chemical, mineralogical, mechanical and durability performance of concrete containing a locally sourced rice husk ash (RHA) used to replace Limestone Portland Cement (OPC) at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% by mass. The aim was to determine whether practical (field-sourced) RHA can provide pozzolanic benefit and whether partial replacement affects resistance to aggressive hydrochloric-acid (HCl) exposure. RHA was characterised by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Concrete mixes were cast, cured 28 days (control) and tested for compressive and splitting-tensile strength. A second set of specimens was water-cured for 28 days then immersed in 1.0 M HCl for 56 days and retested. Means (n=3) and percentage strength loss were computed and microstructural analyses performed on selected samples. XRF showed SiO? = 81.06 wt% while XRD quantified crystalline SiO? ? 41.7 wt% and a large calcite fraction ? 33.5 wt% plus ?4.1 wt% graphite, indicating limited reactive (amorphous) silica. 28-day compressive strengths fell with increasing RHA: M0 = 25.16 MPa, M5 = 22.87 MPa, M10 = 21.96 MPa, M15 = 20.99 MPa, M20 = 16.74 MPa. After 56 days HCl immersion compressive strengths were M0 = 20.87 MPa, M5 = 19.06 MPa, M10 = 15.78 MPa, M15 = 18.36 MPa, M20 = 11.27 MPa. Compressive strength loss relative to 28-day baseline was lowest for M15 (~12.5%) and highest for M20 (~32.7%).The tested, unprocessed RHA contains substantial inert/carbonate phases that limit pozzolanic contribution and increase vulnerability to acid attack at high replacement levels. Modest replacement (?10%) is advisable for this material; higher substitutions require RHA upgrading (controlled calcination, de-carbonation, milling) and re-qualification before structural use.

Keywords: Rice husk ash (RHA); Supplementary cementitious material (SCM); Pozzolanic activity; Mineralogical characterization; Compressive strength; Hydrochloric acid resistance; Durability


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References


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https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17866-5


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