Microstructure of Self-Consolidating High Strength Concrete Incorporating Palm Oil Fuel Ash
Published: 2013-08-03
Page: 674-687
Issue: 2013 - Volume 3 [Issue 4]
M. A. Salam
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Md. Safiuddin *
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
M. Z. Jumaat
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper mainly focuses the effect of palm oil fuel ash (POFA) on the microstructure of self-consolidating high-strength concrete (SCHSC). POFA has been used as a supplementary cementing material replacing ordinary portland cement (OPC) in the range of 0-30%. SCHSC mixes were produced with the water-to-binder (W/B) ratios of 0.25-0.40 to obtain high strength. The microstructure of 28 and 56 days old concretes was analyzed based on their scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) in the cases of 0 and 20% POFA contents. The influence of POFA on the 28 and 56 days compressive strength and permeable porosity was also investigated. The experimental results showed that a POFA content up to 20% increases the compressive strength of SCHSC compared with that of the control concrete due to the reduced permeable porosity. The SEMs of the concretes revealed that POFA contributes to producing a denser microstructure, which increases the compressive strength and reduces the permeable porosity of SCHSC.
Keywords: Compressive strength, concrete microstructure, palm oil fuel ash, permeable porosity, scanning electron micrograph, self-consolidating high-strength concrete