HIGH-Strength Concrete Production Using Sugarcane Bagasse Ash and Bama Gravel Aggregate

Abstract

This study focuses on the use of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash, Bama gravel, river sand and crushed stones of different sizes obtained in Maiduguri, Borno State of Northern Nigeria, for the production of high strength concrete. The materials were admixed with up to 20% Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) in stepped wise increment of 5% as partial replacement for cement in the production of the concrete. Results of the analysis included, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis for the generated SCBA. The oxide composition of SCBA shows that SiO₂ (49.68), Al₂O₃ (17.34) and Fe₂O₃ (13.43) collectively yielded 80.38% which satisfied the minimum requirement of 70% recommended by (ASTM C618, 2008) for pozzolanic material. The coefficients of uniformity and curvature revealed that the river sand and Bama gravel were found to be poorly graded sand and poorly graded gravel with sand respectively based on Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). The aggregates crushing and impact values were within the permissible values of less than 30% and 35% respectively. The admixed samples cured for 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days showed significant strength development when compared with the control sample. Out of the four dosages of 5, 10, 15 and 20% SCBA cured for 28 days, the compressive strength results revealed that the specimen admixed with 10% dosage has the optimum strength of 47.08 N/mm² which is 12.98% less than the control sample value of 53.19 N/mm². The concrete results also indicated that the slump values obtained are within the ACI specification of (25mm – 100mm). The bagasse ash used was generated using open burning method due to unavailability of controlled incinerator and CO₂ generated by bagasse during burning were ignored and 42.5 grade (42.5 N/mm² ) cement used due to unavailability of higher
grades in the market.