Development of engineering and transport properties of green high strength concrete utilizing ternary blended binders

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and advantages of utilizing ternary blended binders consisting of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Densified Silica Fume (DSF), and Ultrafine Palm Oil Fuel Ash (UPOFA) on the engineering and transport properties of Green High Strength Concrete (GHSC). A variable proportion of silica fume (5, 10, 15, and 20%) and up to 50% of UPOFA was incorporated as a partial replacement material from the total volume of cement binder into the GHSC. For fresh concrete, the results showed that the DSF inclusion increases water demand and reduces GHSC workability. Whereas for harden concrete, a considerable improvement in early strength and transport properties of GHSC with ternary binder inclusion. The highest relative strength was achieved at the early age of 1 day, which was up to 139.7% at 15%DSF content in (OPC-UPOFA-DSF₁₅) GHSC. Meanwhile, the greatest improvement in the transport properties; water absorption, porosity, permeability and rapid chloride permeability of the GHSC was realized with 20% of DSF at 28 days in (OPC-UPOFA-DSF₂₀) GHSC. Thus, in current study the results indicate that the combination of up to 65% (UPOFA and DSF) as a substitution binder with cement could produce GHSC with superior engineering and transport properties.

KEYWORDS:

• Palm oil fuel ash
• silica fume
• high-strength green concrete
• ternary blended binder
• engineering properties
• transport properties

Acknowledgement

Special thanks are due to United Palm Oil Industries for providing the palm oil fuel ash.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge Universiti Sains Malaysia for providing the financial support through the Research University (1001/PAWAM/814191) Grant Scheme for the undertaking of the research work.