Compressive Strength and Workability of Concrete Containing Rice Husk Ash with a Constant 2% Palm Kernel Shell Ash as Partial Cement Replacement

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@article{1723858,
      author = {Yahaya Watafua, Shadrach Best Nicholas},
      title = {Compressive Strength and Workability of Concrete Containing Rice Husk Ash with a Constant 2% Palm Kernel Shell Ash as Partial Cement Replacement},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {4},
      pages = {1284-1297},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1723858.pdf},
      abstract = {The production of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is energy-intensive, costly and a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, while rice husks and palm kernel shells are commonly disposed of by open burning in Nigeria. This study evaluated the workability and compressive strength of concrete in which cement was partially replaced by Rice Husk Ash (RHA) at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% together with a constant 2% Palm Kernel Shell Ash (PKSA), relative to a plain OPC control. The RHA was calcined at 600 °C and the PKSA incinerated at 350–750 °C, and both were passed through a 75 µm sieve. A nominal 1:2:4 mix with a water–binder ratio of 0.50, targeting a characteristic strength of 25 N/mm² (C25), was used to cast thirty 100 mm cubes, which were water-cured and tested at 7, 14 and 28 days. Slump decreased progressively from 70 mm for the control to 60 mm at 20% RHA, but all mixes remained within the S2 consistence class. The mix containing 10% RHA and 2% PKSA gave the highest mean 28-day strength of 38.22 N/mm², 14.8% above the control (33.30 N/mm²), and strength declined at higher RHA contents. All mixes exceeded the C25 target at 28 days and had densities of 2220–2370 kg/m³, typical of normal-weight concrete. Analysis of variance showed a significant effect of mix composition on 28-day strength (p = 0.028). A blend of 10% RHA and 2% PKSA is recommended as the optimum among the levels studied, subject to confirmation with larger samples and durability testing.},
      keywords = {compressive strength; palm kernel shell ash; rice husk ash; supplementary cementitious materials; workability},
      month = {October},
  }