• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.291-305
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• 2022

The present investigation deals with the production of the innovative lightweight fly ash angular aggregates (FAA) first time in India using local class 'F' fly ash, its characterization, and exploring the potential for its utilization as alternative coarse aggregates in structural concrete applications. Two types of aggregates are manufactured using two different kinds of binders. The manufacturing process involves mixing fly ash, binder, and water, followed by the briquetting process, sintering and crushing them into suitable size aggregates. Tests are conducted on fly ash angular aggregates to measure their physical properties such as crushing value, impact value, specific gravity, water absorption, bulk density, and percentage of voids. Study shows that the physical parameters are significantly enhanced as compared to commercially available fly ash pellets (FAP). The developed FAA are used in concrete vis-à-vis conventional granite aggregates and FAP to determine their compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths. Although being lightweight, the strength parameters for concrete containing FAA are well compared with conventional concrete. This might be due to the high pozzolanic reaction between fly ash angular aggregates and cement paste. Also, RCC beams are cast and the load-deflection behaviour and ultimate load carrying capacity signify that FAA can be suitably used for RCC construction. Hence, the utilization of fly ash as angular aggregates can reduce the dead load of the structure and at the same time serves as a solution for fly ash disposal and mineral depletion problem.