EFFICACY OF FOREST BASED ASH AS A SUPPLEMENTARY CEMENTING MATERIAL FOR CONCRETE

This paper presents a feasibility study on the effects of forest-based ash (FBA) on the mechanical performance of concrete. Four such samples were obtained from the pulp and paper industry as the residual byproduct of their hog fuel. They were analysed for grain size distribution, density, morphology and oxide content. Subsequently, the ash was employed as a cement substitute (up to 20% by mass) and the resulting concrete was examined for mechanical properties. Results show that all four FBA samples were coarser than Portland cement with mean particle size around 100-1000 microns. Further, X-ray florescence showed that the FBA samples were predominantly composed of CaO, with significant amounts of SO3 and alkali oxides at levels which exceed maximum limits allowed for the latter by ASTM. This poses concerns on durability. Nevertheless, based on short term compressive and tensile performance alone, this study shows that FBA could replace up to 15% by mass of cement.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author