Evaluation of physical and thermal properties of coal combustion residue blended concrete for energy efficient building application in India

ABSTRACT

At the backdrop of energy conservation efforts in building sector, this research paper presents a passive approach by producing less heat conducting concrete with the inclusion of coal combustion residue (bottom ash) as a substitute to conventional sand and using low embodied energy cement in the mix. The constituent phases and other physical and chemical parameters of both sand and bottom ash were evaluated. Three different sets of concrete mixes were prepared by following IS 456 code provisions, and the compressive strength, apparent porosity, bulk density and the thermal conductivity parameters of each mix set were evaluated. The reducing trend was observed in thermal conductivity and compressive strength parameters of concrete mixes against the increasing percentage of sand replacement by coal bottom ash. Reduction to the tune of around 25% in the thermal transmittance value (U-value) was observed while comparison was made between conventional concrete roof and bottom ash blended concrete roof with identical features. Coal combustion residue blended concrete could be applied for sustainable and energy efficient building construction for lowering cooling demand without any additional capital investment and also saving sand from faster depletion than its renewal rate.

KEYWORDS:

• Concrete
• bottom ash
• thermal conductivity
• energy
• building

Acknowledgements

The corresponding author would like to express his sincerest gratitude to Dr.K. Muraleedharan, present Director of CSIR-CGCRI for his encouragement to complete the work and his kind permission to publish the paper and Prof. Indranil Manna, former Director of CSIR-CGCRI for his kind consent to pursue the research work on the above subject. Further, the continuous untiring support received from Mrs. M. Majumdar, Scientist, Mrs. M. Kanu, Mrs. S. Samanta, Mr. J. Mondal and Mr. S. Mondal of Material Characterization Division of CSIR-CGCRI, Mr. A. Mandal & Mr. N. Dey of EMD and Dr. J. Ghosh & Mrs. K. Chakraborty of XRD are sincerely acknowledged. Mr. Subrata Mistry needs special mentioning for extending his helping hands continuously to complete the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.