Sept. 2014. Vol. 5. No.

04 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 - 2014 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

USE OF RICE HUSK ASH AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR

CEMENT IN CONCRETE
OBILADE, I.O.

Principal Lecturer., Department of Civil Engineering, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Nigeria
E-mail: iobilade@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This paper summarizes the research work on the properties of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) when used as partial
replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in concrete. OPC was replaced with RHA by weight at
0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. 0% replacement served as the control. Compacting factor test was
carried out on fresh concrete while Compressive Strength test was carried out on hardened 150mm
concrete cubes after 7, 14 and 28 days curing in water. The results revealed that the Compacting factor
decreased as the percentage replacement of OPC with RHA increased. The compressive strength of the
hardened concrete also decreased with increasing OPC replacement with RHA. It is recommended that
further studies be carried out to gather more facts about the suitability of partial replacement of OPC with
RHA in concrete.

Keywords: Concrete, Rice Husk Ash, Compacting factor, Compressive strength

1.0 INTRODUCTION concrete compared to OPC concrete. Malhotra

and Mehta (2004) later reported that ground
The need to reduce the high cost of Ordinary RHA with finer particle size than OPC improves
Portland Cement in order to provide concrete properties, including that higher
accommodation for the populace has intensified substitution amounts results in lower water
research into the use of some locally available absorption values and the addition of RHA
materials that could be used as partial causes an increment in the compressive strength.
replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement Cordeiro, Filho and Fairbarn (2009) carried out
(OPC) in Civil Engineering and Building Works. elaborate studies of Brazilian RHA and Rice
Supplementary cementitous materials have been Straw Ash (RSA) and demonstrated that grinding
proven to be effective in meeting most of the increases the pozzolanicity of RHA and that high
requirements of durable concrete and blended strength of RHA, RSA concrete makes
cements are now used in many parts of the world production of blocks with good bearing strength
(Bakar, Putrajaya, and Abdulaziz, 2010). in a rural setting possible. Their study showed
that combination of RHA or RSA with lime
Various research works have been carried out produces a weak cementitous material which
on the binary blends of Ordinary Portland could however be used to stabilize laterite and
Cement with difeerent pozzolans in making improve the bearing strength of the material.
cement composites (Adewuyi and Ola, 2005; De Habeeb and Fayyadh (2009) investigated the
Sensale, 2006; Saraswathy and Song, 2007; Ettu influence of RHA average particle size on the
et al, 2013). properties of concrete and found out that at early
ages the strength was comparable, while at the
Rice Husk Ash (RHA) which is an age of 28 days, finer RHA exhibited higher
agricultural by-product has been reported to be a strength than the sample with coarser RHA.
good pozzolan by numerous researchers. Mehta Rukzon, Chindaprasirt and Mahachai (2009)
and Pirth (2000) investigated the use of RHA to further studied the effect of grinding on the
reduce temperature in high strength mass chemical and physical properties of rice husk ash
concrete and got result showing that RHA is very and the effect of RHA fineness on properties of
effective in reducing the temperature of mass

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Sept. 2014. Vol. 5. No. 04 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 - 2014 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

mortar and found that pozzolans with finer 2.2. Batching and mixing of materials
particles had greater pozzolanic reaction.
Batching of materials was done by weight.
This research work examined the use of Rice The percentage replacements of Ordinary
Husk Ash as partial replacement for Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) by Rice Husk Ash
Portland Cement in concrete. It invoved the (RHA) were 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%.
determination of workability and compressive The 0% replacement was to serve as control for
strength of the concrete at different level of other samples.
replacement.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.3. Concrete Mix Design
2.1. Materials
The concrete used in this research work was
2.1.1. Rice Husk Ash (RHA) made using Binder, Sand and Gravel. The
concrete mix proportion was 1:2:4 by weight.
The Rice Husk used was obtained from Ile Ife,
Nigeria. After collection, the Rice Husk was 2.4. Casting of samples
burnt under guided or enclosed place to limit the
amount of ash that will be blown off.. The ash Cubic specimens of concrete with size 150
was ground to the required level of fineness and x 150 x 150 mm were cast for determination of
sieved through 600 μm sieve in order to remove all measurements. Six mixes were prepared using
any impurity and larger size particles. different percentages of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25
RHA. The concrete was mixed, placed and
2.1.2. Coarse Aggregate compacted in three layers. The samples were
demoulded after 24 hours and kept in a curing
The granite used for this research work was tank for 7, 14 and 28 days as required. The
12mm size. It was sourced from a quarry in Compacting Factor apparatus was also used to
Igbajo in Nigeria determine the compacting factor values of the
fresh concrete in accordance with BS 1881: Part
2.1.3. Fine Aggregate 103 (1983).
The sand used for this research work was 2.5. Testing of samples
sourced from Iree, Osun state, Nigeria. The
impurities were removed and it conformed to the The compressive strength tests on the
requirements of BS 882 (1992). concrete cubes were carried out with the
COMTEST Crushing Machine at The Sammya
2.1.4. Cement Construction Company, Osogbo, Nigeria. This
was done in accordance with BS 1881: Part 116
The cement used was Ordinary Portland Cement. (1983). The sample was weighed before being
It was sourced from Iree, Osun State, Nigeria put in the compressive test machine. The
and it conformed to the requirements of BS EN machine automatically stops when failure occurs
197-1: 2000. and then displays the failure load.
2.1.5. Water 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The water used for the study was obtained from a 3.1. Results of compacting factor test on fresh
free flowing stream. The water was clean and concrete samples
free from any visible impurities. It conformed to
BS EN 1008:2002 requirements. The results obtained from the compacting
factor test on fresh concrete samples are given in
Table 1.

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Sept. 2014. Vol. 5. No. 04 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 - 2014 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

Table 1: Compacting factor values of RHA concrete The results of the bulk densities show that
the bulk density reduces as the percentage RHA
Percentage replacement Compacting increases. This could be attributed to the increase
in voids in the concrete cubes as the percentage
of RHA Factor values
RHA increases. However, the bulk densities
(%) increase as the number of days of curing increase
as the concrete cubes become denser.
0 0.91
3.3. Results of Compressive Strength Tests on
5 0.91 Concrete Cubes

10 0.90 The results of the compressive strength

tests on concrete cubes are shown in Table 3 and
15 0.90 Figure 2
20 0.89 Table 3: Compressive Strength of Concrete Cubes

25 0.88 with various percentages of RHA

The table indicates that the compacting factor Rice Husk Compressive Strength
values reduce as the RHA content increases. The Ash (N/mm2)
compacting factor values reduced from 0.91 to Replacement
0.88 as the percentage RHA replacement (%) 7 days 14 days 28 days
increased from 0% to 25%. These results 0 17.51 21.60 29.15
indicate that the concrete becomes less workable 5 16.88 17.44 27.68
(stiff) as the RHA percentage increases meaning 10 12.01 12.83 20.88
15 11.24 12.55 18.70
that more water is required to make the mixes
20 10.86 11.51 18.59
more workable. The high demand for water as
25 7.95 8.98 13.29
the RHA content increases is due to increased
amount of silica in the mixture. This is typical of
pozzolan cement concrete as the silica-lime The results of the compressive strength of
reaction requires more water in addition to water concrete cubes show that the compressive
required during hydration of cement (Bui et al. strengths reduced as the percentage RHA
2005). increased. However, the compressive strengths
increased as the number of days of curing
3.2. Bulk Densities of Concrete Cubes
increased for each percentage RHA replacement.
The Bulk Densities of the Concrete Cubes It is seen from Table 3 that for the control cube,
cast at various days of curing are shown in Table the compressive strength increased from 17.51
2 and Figure 1. N/mm2 at 7 days to 29.15 N/mm2 at 28 days (i.e.
about 66% increment). The 28 day strength was
Table 2. Bulk Densities of Concrete Cubes with above the specified value of 25N/mm2 for grade
25 concrete (BS 8110, 1997) as shown in Table
various percentages of RHA 4. The strength of the 5% replacement by rice
husk ash showed increase in compressive
Rice Husk Ash Bulk Density strength from 16.88 N/mm2 at 7 days to 27.68
Replacement (g/cm3) N/mm2 at 28 days (64% increment). The 28 day
(%) 7 days 14 days 28 days
strength was above the specified value of
0 2.32 2.37 2.43
25N/mm2 for grade 25 concrete (BS 8110, 1997)
5 2.30 2.31 2.33
10 2.26 2.28 2.30
as shown in Table 4. The strength of the 10%
15 2.25 2.25 2.30 replacement by rice husk ash showed increase in
20 2.07 2.25 2.29 compressive strength from 12.01 N/mm2 at 7
25 2.04 2.13 2.28 days to 20.88 N/mm2 at 28 days (74%
increment). The 28 day strength was above the
specified value of 20N/mm2 for grade 20

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Sept. 2014. Vol. 5. No. 04 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 - 2014 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

concrete (BS 8110, 1997) as shown in Table 5. RECOMMENDATIONS

4.The strength of the 15% replacement by rice
husk ash showed increase in compressive The following are recommended from this study:
strength from 11.24 N/mm2 at 7 days to 18.70
N/mm2 at 28 days (66% increment). The 28 day The use of local materials like RHA as pozzolans
strength was above the specified value of should be encouraged in concrete production.
15N/mm2 for light weight concrete (BS 8110,
1997) as shown in Table 4.The strength of the Similar studies are recommended for concrete
20% replacement by rice husk ash showed beams and slab sections to ascertain the flexural
increase in compressive strength from 10.86 behaviour of lightweight concrete made with this
N/mm2 at 7 days to 18.59 N/mm2 at 28 days material.
(71% increment). The 28 day strength was above
Durability studies of concrete cubes made with
the specified value of 15N/mm2 for light weight
RHA as partial replacement for cement should be
concrete (BS 8110, 1997) as shown in Table 4 . carried out.
Table 4: Recommended grade of concrete REFERENCES
(BS 8110, 1997)
[1] British Standard Institution (2002).
Characteristic Concrete class Methods of test for water for making
Grade strength concrete, BS EN 1008, British Standard
7 7.0 Plain concrete Institution, London.
10 10.0 [2] Adewuyi, A.P. and Ola, B.F.
15 15.0 Reinforced concrete (2005).Application of waterworks
with lightweight sludge as partial replacement for cement
aggregate in concrete production, Science Focus
20 20.0 Reinforced concrete Journal, 10(1): 123-130.
25 25.0 with dense aggregate [3] Bakar, B.H.A., Putrajaya, R.C. and
30 30.0 Concrete with post Abdulaziz H. (2010). Malaysian Saw
tensioned tendons
dust ash – Improving the Durability and
40 40.0
50 50.0 Concrete with pre Corrosion resistance of concrete: Pre-
60 60.0 tensioned tendons review. Concrete Research Letters,
1(1): 6-13, March 2010.
[4] British Standard Institution (1983).
4. CONCLUSIONS Methods for Determination of
Compacting Factor, BS 1881, Part 103,
From the investigations carried out, the British Standard Institution, London.
following conclusions can be made: [5] British Standard Institution (1983).
Methods for Determination of
The optimum addition of RHA as partial Compressive Strength of concrete cubes
replacement for cement is in the range 0-20%. BS 1881, Part 116, British Standard
Institution, London.
The compacting factor values of the concrete [6] British Standard Institution (1992).
reduced as the percentage of RHA increased. Specifications for aggregates from
natural sources for concrete, BS 882,
The Bulk Densities of concrete reduced as the Part 2, British Standard Institution,
percentage RHA replacement increased. London.
[7] British Standard Institution (2000).
The Compressive Strengths of concrete reduced
Specification for Portland cement, BS
as the percentage RHA replacement increased.
EN 197-1, British Standard Institution.
London.
[8] Bui, D.D.; Hu, J. and Stroeven, P.
(2005). Particle Size Effect on the
Strength of Rice Husk Ash Blended

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Sept. 2014. Vol. 5. No. 04 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 - 2014 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

Gap-Graded Portland Cement Concrete, Effect of SDA Average Particle Size

Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol. Mechanical Properties and Drying
27, pp 357-366. Shrinkage. Australian Journal of Basic
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ultrafine saw dust ash with high-carbon (2004). Pozzolanic and Cementitious
content as pozzolan in high Materials. London: Taylor & Francis.
performance concrete.. Materials and [14] Mehta, P. K. and Pirtz, D. (2000). Use
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10.1617/s11527-008-9437-z. in high strength mass concrete. ACI
[10] De Sensale, G.R. (2006). Strength Journal Proceedings, 75: 60-63.
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[11] Ettu, L.O., Arimanwa, J.I., saw dust ash. International Journal of
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Amanze, A.P.C. (2013): Strength of (2): 242-247.
Ternary Blended Cement Concrete [16] Saraswathy, V. and Song, H. (2007).
Containing Corn Cob Ash and Pawpaw Corrosion performance of rice husk ash
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[12] Habeeb, G.A. and Fayyadh, M.M.
(2009). Saw dust ash Concrete: the

2.45
2.4
Bulk Density (g/cubic cm)

2.35
2.3
2.25
7 days
2.2
14 days
2.15
28 days
2.1
2.05
2
0 5 10 15 20 25
Rice Husk Ash Replacement (%)

Figure 1: Effect of RHA content on Bulk Density of Concrete at different curing age

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Sept. 2014. Vol. 5. No. 04 ISSN2305-8269
International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
© 2012 - 2014 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved
www.eaas-journal.org

35
Compressive Strength (N/sq mm)
30

25

20
7 days
15
14 days
10 28 days

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
RHA Replacement (%)

Figure 2: Effect of RHA content on compressive strength of concrete at different curing age

16