Strength and permeability properties of concrete containing rice husk ash with different grinding time

Abstract

The compressive concrete strength and the gas permeability properties over varying fineness of the rice husk ash were experimentally investigated. The relationships among them were analyzed. In this study eight samples made from the rice husk ashes with a different grain size were used, i.e. coarse original rice husk ash 17.96 μm (RHA0), 10.93 μm (RHA1) 9.74 μm (RHA2), 9.52 μm (RHA3), 9.34 μm (RHA4), 8.70 μm (RHA5), 6.85 μm (RHA6) and 6.65 μm (RHA7). The ordinary Portland cement was partially replaced with the rice husk ash (15 wt%). The test results showed that the RHA3 produced the concrete with good strength and low porosity. Additionally the strength of the concrete was improved due to the partial replacement of RHA3 material in comparison with normal coarse rice husk ash RHA0. On the other hand the influence of OPC and RHA materials on the concrete permeability was affected by the grinding time and age (i.e., curing time). The permeability coefficient decreased with the increasing of curing time. The relationships between compressive strength and permeability coefficient are greatly affected by curing times and are sensitive to the grinding cementitious systems.