Influence of Some Selected Supplementary Cementitious Materials on Workability and Compressive Strength of Concrete - A Review

Abstract

Premature deterioration of our nation's concrete structures has been a persistent and frustrating problem to those responsible for maintaining them as well as to the public. One of the ways to minimize these problems is to make the concrete less permeable by densifying the cementitious paste. This densification is achieved by using a lower water-cement ratio and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Many researchers have successfully provided a rundown of the current facts about the favorable use of supplementary cementitious materials. These summaries contain a limited number of SCMs considered. This paper reviews the influence of twelve (12) selected supplementary cementitious materials, which are; Cupola Furnace Slag Powder (CFSP), Blast Furnace Slag Powder (BFSP), Silica Fume (SF), Fly Ash (FA), Rice Husk Ash (RHA), Metakaolin (MK), Coconut Husk Ash (CHA), Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), Wood Waste Ash (WWA), Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash (SCBA), Corn Cob Ash (CCA), Bamboo Leaf Ash (BLA), workability and compressive strength of concrete, thus providing a larger database of the current facts about the favorable use of industrial and agricultural byproducts in the concrete industry. Review of literature and careful observation of results were used in generating the useful information provided in this paper. This review considered the compressive strength and workability of concrete containing partial substitute of ordinary Portland cement by the aforementioned supplementary cementitious materials. The chemical compositions of each of these selected supplementary cementitious materials were also reported. This study revealed that the incorporation of these twelve SCMs significantly improves the strength and workability of concrete. It is therefore recommended that arrangements be made by those interested in this paper for processing of these SCMs into commercial cement rather than being disposed of as wastes.