International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014)

Effects of Silica fume and Fly ash on Durability

Characteristics of High Performance Concrete
Anilkumar P M1, M Raghavendra2, J Sudhakumar3
1
B .Tech Student, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Calicut
2
M.Tech Student, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Calicut
3
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Calicut

Abstract— Over the past 20 years, the research involving the for raw materials, industry needs faster development of
utilisation of mineral by-products to enhance the mechanical high performance concrete so that the construction works
properties and durability characteristics of concrete has can be completed within the given specified time. The
received an increased attention from construction industry. In demand is attained by the high early strength cement, use
recent years, the research has focused on developing high
of low water-cement ratio through the use of increased
performance concrete in cooperating relatively large amounts
of mineral by products as supplementary cementing cement content by reduced water content. The above steps
materials. It is evident that mechanical and durability may results in reduction of durability characteristics. The
characteristics of high performance concrete are complex and durability of cement-concrete is defined as its ability to
several standard tests are available to access the above resist weathering action, chemical attack, abrasion or any
mentioned parameters. The tests that were carried out include other process of deterioration. The current study deals with
water absorption, abrasion resistance, sulphate attack and the durability characteristics of high performance concrete
permeability. This paper discusses the experimental partial replacement of Fly ash and silica fume.
evaluation of durability characteristics of high performance
concrete made from mixes using various percentages of fly ash
and silica fume. II. MATERIALS
A. Cement
Keywords— Durability, fly ash, high performance concrete, The cement used for present study was 53 grade
mix design, silica fume. ordinary Portland cement confirming to IS: 8112-1989. The
preliminary tests on cement were conducted according to
I. INTRODUCTION IS: 4031-1988 and results are tabulated in TABLE I.
High-performance concretes are made with carefully
TABLE I
selected high-quality ingredients and optimized mixture PROPERTIES OF CEMENT USED.
designs; these are prepared with special attention to the
highest industry standards. All over the world, pozzolonic Observed
Properties
materials have been widely used as partial replacement of values
cement for mortar and concrete due to the reasons of Specific gravity 3.15
availability of industrial wastes like fly ash and silica fume. Fineness 3%
Disposal of material like fly ash and silica fume is
becoming a serious problem for environmental and Initial setting time 45 min
economic considerations. Use of such materials as Final setting time 195 min
replacement for conventional materials can achieve twin
objectives of ‗waste disposal‘ and ‗natural resources By Le Chatelier
6
method
conservation‘ together. The replacement of cement by Soundness
By autoclave test
pozzolonic materials in a concrete often achieves cost method
0.5
saving and imparts specific engineering properties to the
3 days 32.4 MPa
finished product. To use pozzolanic materials effectively
Compressive
and economically, it is important to understand the strength
7 days 42.6 MPa
difference in properties between cement and pozzolanic 28 days 58.4 Mpa
materials. In this modern era which is facing acute shortage

298
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014)

B. Fine aggregate Chennai was used as one of the pozzolanic material with
River sand passing through IS 4.75 mm sieve replacement of cement in the preparation of high
confirming to zone III as per IS: 383-1970 was used as fine performance concrete. Properties of fly ash are depicted in
aggregate. The properties of fine aggregates determined are TABLE IV.
given in TABLE II.
TABLE IV
PROPERTIES OF FLY ASH
TABLE II
PROPERTIES OF FINE AGGREGATE Properties Observed Value
Properties Observed value Specific gravity 2.36

Specific gravity 2.54 Fineness 224 m2/kg

Fineness modulus 2.46 Consistency 45%

SiO2 56%
Bulk density 1587 kg/m3
Al2O3 23.2%
Loose densiy 1465 kg/m3
Fe2O3 5.10%
Percentage of bulking 35 %
TiO 0.98%
Percentage of lumps 0.63 %
CaO 8%
Water absorption 1.21 %
MgO 4.31%
C. Coarse aggregate P2O5 0.28%
Crushed granite stone with a maximum size of 12.5 mm SO3 1.8%
was used as a coarse aggregate. The properties of coarse
Ash 68.76%
aggregates determined are given in TABLE III.
Grade C
TABLE III
PROPERTIES OF COARSE AGGREGATE Fixed carbon 18.92%

Properties Observed value E. Silica fume

Specific gravity 2.75 Another pozzolanic material used in this experiment is
Fineness modulus 6.89 silica fume (amorphous SiO2). Silica fume is a by-product
resulting from the reduction of high quantity quartz with
Bulk density 1534 kg/m3
coal in electric arc in the manufacture of silicon or
Loose densiy 1457 kg/m3 ferrosilicon alloy. Physical properties of silica fume are
Aggregate crushing value 30.2 depicted in TABLE V.
Aggregate impact value 34.1
TABLE V
Maximum size of aggregate 12.5 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SILICA FUME

Flakiness index 23.19 % Properties Observed value

Elongation index 30.43 % Colour Dark grey
Water absorption 0.69 % Specific gravity 2.34

D. Fly ash Fineness modulus 20000 m2/kg

Fly ash is finely divided residue resulting from the Bulk density 240 kg/m3
combustion of powered coal and transported by the flue
Chemical composition of silica fume is given in TABLE
gases and collected by electrostatic precipitators. Fly ash
VI.
supplies from North Chennai Thermal power station,
299
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014)

TABLE VI TABLE VIII

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SILICA FUME DIFFERENT W/B RATIOS FOR DIFFERENT PROPORTIONS OF POZZOLNA
Properties Observed Value
% of pozzolana added W/ B ratio
SiO2 90-96%
FA 10 0.36
Al2O3 0.5 -3.0%
FA 20 0.34
Fe2O3 0.2-0.8%
FA 30 0.33
MgO 0.5-1.5%
SF 10 0.35
CaO 0.1-0.5%
Na2O 0.2-0.7% SF 20 0.33
K2O 0.04-1.0% SF 30 0.33
C 0.5-1.4%
B. Water absorption test for standard concrete tiles
S 0.1-2.5%
Water absorption test was carried out according to IS:
Loss of ignition (C+S) 0.7-2.5%
1273-1980 specifications. For casting the specimens square
F. Water shaped moulds of 7.07cm x 7.07 cm x 2.5cm were used.
Clean potable water available in the laboratory, which After 24 hours of casting, the specimens were demoulded
satisfies drinking standards, were used for the preparation and cured for 28 days; it is then taken out, wiped dry and
of the specimen and its subsequent curing. tested for water absorption.

G. Conplast SP 430 (A2)

( )
Conplast Super plasticizer with a specific gravity of
1.26@ 30°C was used for the experiment. The main
features of SP include increased workability, longer placing where, W1= weight in grams of the saturated specimen
time and improved early strength requirements. W2= weight in grams of the oven dried specimen
C. Permeability test for standard concrete cylinders
III. TEST PROGRAMME
The test was conducted as per IS 3085-1965.
A. Mix design Cylindrical specimens of diameter 150mm and height
P.C.Aitcin modified mix design based on ACI: 211.4R- 150mm were tested. After 28 days of curing, the specimen
93 for arriving mix proportions for HPC. Mix proportions was surface dried and thoroughly cleaned. The specimen
for HPC 60 grade concrete is listed in TABLE VII and the was centered in the cell, with the lower end resting on the
different water binder ratios for different proportions of ledge. A mixture of bee wax and rosin was melted and was
pozzolanic materials are given in TABLE VIII. used as the sealing compound. The annular space between
the specimen and the cell was carefully filled with the
TABLE VII molten sealing compound. The total quantity of water
MIX PROPORTIOPN OF HPC
percolated was noted.
Particulars Kg/ m3
Cement 480 –X
( )
Fine aggregate 684

% of FA /SF X
1097 where,
Coarse aggregate
K = Coefficient of permeability in cm/sec
Water Depending on % of GGBFS
Q = Quantity of water in mm percolating over entire
Super plasticizer 2% period of the test after steady state has been reached

300
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014)

A = Area of specimen face in cm2
T = Time in seconds over which Q is measured
H/L = Ratio of the pressure head to thickness of the
specimen, both expressed in same unit
E. Sulphate resistance for standard concrete tiles
Concrete cubes of size 100 × 100 × 100 mm were
prepared and cured for 28 days. After 28 days all the
specimens were kept in atmosphere for 2-days for constant
weight, subsequently, the specimens were weighed and
immersed in 3% sulphuric acid (H2SO4) solution for 90-
days. The pH value of the acidic media was maintained at
0.3. After 90-days of immersing in acid solution, the
specimens were taken out and washed in running water and
kept in atmosphere for 2-day for constant weight.
Subsequently the specimens were weighed and the
percentage losses of mass were calculated.

( )

where, W1 = Initial weight of specimen in grams

W2 = Final weight of specimen in grams

IV. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Fig.1 Permeability test apparatus
D. Abrasion test for standard concrete tiles
Specimens were tested according to IS 1237-1959
(reaffirmed 2001). Size of specimens tested were 70.7 x
70.7 x 25 mm. Specimens after 28 days curing were
weighed to the nearest 0.1gm using electronic balance.
( )
A. Results of water absorption on standard concrete tiles
The percentage of water absorption of the hardened
concrete after 28 days of curing containing various
percentages of cement replacement by pozzolana are shown
in TABLE IX and Fig.3 shows the graphical representation.
Reduction in percentage of water absorption was found to
be lesser for Fly ash when compared with silica fume

TABLE IX
where, t = Average loss in thickness in mm WATER ABSORPTION ON CONCRETE SPECIMENS
W1 = Initial weight of specimen in grams % of % of water absorption
W2 = Final weight of specimen in grams pozzolana
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
V = Initial volume of specimen in cm3 added
Conventional 2.83 3.01 2.90 2.92
A = Surface area of the specimen in cm2 concrete
(0%)
FA 10 2.77 2.80 2.82 2.79

FA 20 2.70 2.75 2.80 2.75

FA 30 2.65 2.72 2.68 2.68

SF 10 2.75 2.73 2.74 2.74

SF 20 2.68 2.65 2.68 2.67

SF 30 2.58 2.60 2.63 2.60

Fig. 2 Abrasion resistance test apparatus

301
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014)

Fig.3 Percentage water absorption vs Fig.4 Permeability vs percentage of

percentage pozzolanic material added pozzolana added
3
% of water absorption

Coef. of permeability
2.9 Fly ash

(10-9 cm/sec)
Silica fume 6
2.8
2.7 4
2.6 2 Fly ash
Silica fume
2.5 0
0 10 20 30 40 0 10 20 30 40
% pozzolanic material added % pozzolanic materials added

B. Results of Permeability test

C. Test results of abrasion test on concrete specimens
The test was conducted as per IS 3085-1965. Results of
Abrasion resistance was measured as the loss in thickness
permeability tests on Conventional high performance
of the specimen after subjecting to abrasion Results of
concrete and with partial replacement of pozzolanic
abrasion according to IS 1237-1959(reaffirmed 2001) is
material are depicted in TABLE X. Variation in
given in TABLE XI. Loss in thickness when subjected to
permeability values with replacement of pozzolanic
abrasion was found to be lesser for Fly ash when compared
materials are graphically represented in Fig.4. Reduction in
with silica fume. Fig. 5 shows the graphical variation of the
coefficient of permeability was found to be lesser for Fly
results. Up to 30 percentage of replacement level of
ash when compared with silica fume. The coefficient of
pozzolanic materials, abrasion resistance is less when
permeability for 30 % fly ash and silica fume replaced HPC
comparing with conventional high performance concrete.
was found to be respectively 3.82% and 11.96% lower than
But in this investigation it is observed that cement
the conventional high performance concrete. It is
replacement with pozzolanic materials resulted in a very
understood that 30 percentage cement replacement level
low marginal difference in wear resistance as that of
with pozzolanic material gives least permeability of
conventional HPC.
concrete.
TABLE XI
TABLE X ABRASION TEST ON CONCRETE SPECIMENS
PERMEABILTY TEST ON CONCRETE SPECIMENS
% of Average wear in mm
Coefficient of permeability at the end of
% of 28 days (10-9 cm/sec) pozzolana Trial Trial Trial Trial Trial Trial Mean
pozzolana added
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average 1 2 3 4 5 6
added Convention
Conventional al concrete 0.70 0.71 0.71 0.70 0.71 0.72 0.715
6.02 5.97 6.08 6.02 (0%)
concrete (0%)
FA 10 5.73 6.01 5.85 5.86 FA 10 0.69 0.68 0.71 0.72 0.71 0.69 0.70

FA 20 5.82 5,94 5,73 5.83 FA 20 0.68 0.68 0.69 0.68 0.69 0.68 0.68

FA 30 5.74 5.78 5.86 5.79 FA 30 0.68 0.69 0.68 0.67 0.68 0.67 0.675

SF 10 5.26 5.35 5.30 5.30 SF 10 0.65 0.65 0.64 0.64 0.65 0.66 0.648

SF 20 5.06 5.15 4.98 5.07 SF 20 0.64 0.63 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.63 0.635

SF 30 4.74 4.83 4.70 4.75 SF 30 0.64 0.64 0.63 0.64 0.65 0.64 0.626

302
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014)

V. RESULTS AND SCOPE FOR FURTHER STUDY

Fig.5 Abrasion resistance vs percentage of
pozzolana added Durability characteristics such as water absorption,
permeability, sulphate attack resistance and abrasion
Average wear in mm

0.75 Fly ash resistance are low for the fly ash and silica fume based
0.7 concrete materials as compared with conventional high
Silica fume
0.65 performance concrete. Durability characteristics of
0.6 combination of different percentage of pozzolanic material
0 10 20 30 40 with partial replacement of cement in concrete can be
% pozzolanic material added considered as a scope for further studies.

Reference
D. Results of sulphate resistance test
[1] Brandt. A.M. and Kucharska, L, ―Mechanical properties and
The specimens for sulphuric acid attack were kept Applications of High Performance concrete‖, Proceedings of
immersed in 3% sulphuric acid solution for 90 days. They International Symposium on innovative world of concrete (ICI-IWC-
were tested after 90 days for loss in weight. Test results are 93), pp. KN3-KN2, July 1998.
depicted in TABLE XII and the graphical variation is [2] Habib A. Mesbah, Mohamed Lachemi, and Pierre-claude Aitcin,
―Determination of Elastic performance of High-Performance
represented in Fig.6 Concrete at Early Ages‖, ACI Material Journal ,vol. 99, pp. 37-41,
January 2002.
TABLE XII [3] Nabil Bouzoubaa, Benoit Fournier, V. Mohan Malhotra, and Dean
SULPHATE RESISTANCE TEST ON CONCRETE SPECIMENS M. Golden, ― Mechanical properties and durabilty of cocrete made
% loss in mass at the end of 28 days with high volume fly ash blended produced in cement plant‖, ACI
% of Material Journal, vol.99, pp. 560-567, December 2002.
pozzolana Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average [4] Hani H.nassif, Husam Najm, Nakin Suksawang, ― Effect of
added pozzolonc materials and curing methods on the elastic modulus of
Conventional high performance concrete‖, Cement and Concrete Composites
2.84 2.92 2.87 2.87
concrete (0%) Journal, vol. 27, pp. 661-671, Decemeber 2004.
FA 10 2.84 2.80 2.85 2.83 [5] Roland Bleszynski etal, ―Durabilty of ternary blend concrete with
silica fume and blast furance slag‖, ACI Material Journal, vol. 99,
FA 20 2.79 2.81 2.76 2.78 pp. 499-508, October 2002.
[6] Mehta.P.K, ―Evaluation of sulphate resisting cement by new test
FA 30 2.70 2.74 2.69 2.71
methods‖, ACI Journal, vol. 72, pp. 573-575, February 1975.
SF 10 2.72 2.75 2.78 2.75 [7] Richard Gagne, Alan boisvert and Michel Pigeon, ―Effect of super
plasticizer dosage on on mechnical properties, permeability and free-
SF 20 2.68 2.70 2.71 2.69 thaw durability of HSC with and without slica fume, ACI Material
Journal, February 1996.
SF 30 2.56 2.61 2.65 2.60
[8] P. Muthupriya, K. Subramanian and B. G Vishnuram, ―Strength and
Durability Characteristics of High Performance Concrete‖,
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering, ISSN 0974-
5904, Vol. 03, No. 03 , pp. 416-433, June 2010.
Fig.6 Percent loss in mass due to sulphate [9] Magudeaswaran. P and. Eswaramoorthi. P, ―Experimental Study on
attack vs percentage of pozzolana added Durability Characteristics of High Performance Concrete‖,
International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced
Percent loss in mass

2.9 Engineering, Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2013.

Silica fume
2.8
2.7
2.6
Fly ash
2.5
0 10 20 30 40
% pozzolanic materials added

303