• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2020

This paper reports the effect of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) in geopolymer concrete on strength, durability and microstructural properties under ambient curing at a room temperature of 25℃ and 65±5% relative humidity. Rice husk was incinerated at 800℃ in a hot air oven. and ground in a ball mill to achieve the required fineness. RHA was partially added in 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 percentages to fly ash with 10% of GGBS to produce geopolymer concrete. Test results exhibit that the substitution of RHA in geopolymer concrete resulted in reduced strength properties during initial curing. In the initial stage, workability of GPC mixes was affected by RHA particles due to the presence of dormant particles in it. It is evident from the microstructural study that the presence of RHA particles densifies the matrix reducing porosity in concrete. This is due to the presence of RHA in geopolymer concrete, which affects the ratio of silica and alumina, resulting in polycondensation reactions products. This study suggests that incorporation of rice husk ash in geopolymer concrete is the solution for effective utilization of waste materials and prevention of environmental pollution due to the dumping of industrial waste and to produce eco-friendly concrete.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.433-444
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• 2019

As rice husk ash (RHA) is not produced in controlled manufacturing process like cement, its properties vary significantly even within the same lot. In fact, properties of Rice Husk Ash Based Concrete (RHABC) are largely dictated by uncertainty leading to huge deviations from their expected values. This paper proposes a Robust Cost Optimization (RCO) procedure for RHABC, which minimizes such unwanted deviation due to uncertainty and provides guarantee of achieving desired strength and workability with least possible cost. The RCO simultaneously minimizes cost of RHABC production and its deviation considering feasibility of attaining desired strength and workability in presence of uncertainty. RHA related properties have been modeled as uncertain-but-bounded type as associated probability density function is not available. Metamodeling technique is adopted in this work for generating explicit expressions of constraint functions required for formulation of RCO. In doing so, the Moving Least Squares Method is explored in place of conventional Least Square Method (LSM) to ensure accuracy of the RCO. The efficiency by the proposed MLSM based RCO is validated by experimental studies. The error by the LSM and accuracy by the MLSM predictions are clearly envisaged from the test results. The experimental results show good agreement with the proposed MLSM based RCO predicted mix properties. The present RCO procedure yields RHABC mixes which is almost insensitive to uncertainty (i.e., robust solution) with nominal deviation from experimental mean values. At the same time, desired reliability of satisfying the constraints is achieved with marginal increment in cost.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.225-238
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• 2013

In this study, a two-layer feed-forward neural network was constructed and applied to determine a mapping associating mix design and testing factors of cement-nano silica (NS)-rice husk ash ternary blended concrete samples with their performance in conductance to the water absorption properties. To generate data for the neural network model (NNM), a total of 174 field cores from 58 different mixes at three ages were tested in the laboratory for each of percentage, velocity and coefficient of water absorption and mix volumetric properties. The significant factors (six items) that affect the permeability properties of ternary blended concrete were identified by experimental studies which were: (1) percentage of cement; (2) content of rice husk ash; (3) percentage of 15 nm of $SiO_2$ particles; (4) content of NS particles with average size of 80 nm; (5) effect of curing medium and (6) curing time. The mentioned significant factors were then used to define the domain of a neural network which was trained based on the Levenberg-Marquardt back propagation algorithm using Matlab software. Excellent agreement was observed between simulation and laboratory data. It is believed that the novel developed NNM with three outputs will be a useful tool in the study of the permeability properties of ternary blended concrete and its maintenance.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.17-30
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• 2014

This research presents the effect of various ground pozzolanic materials in blended cement concrete on the strength and chloride penetration resistance. An experimental investigation dealing with concrete incorporating ground fly ash (GFA), ground bottom ash (GBA) and ground rice husk ash (GRHA). The concretes were mixed by replacing each pozzolan to Ordinary Portland cement at levels of 0%, 10%, 20% and 40% by weight of binder. Three different water to cement ratios (0.35, 0.48 and 0.62) were used and type F superplasticizer was added to keep the required slump. Compressive strength and chloride permeability were determined at the ages of 28, 60, and 90 days. Furthermore, using this experimental database, linear and nonlinear multiple regression techniques were developed to construct a mathematical model of chloride permeability in concretes. Experimental results indicated that the incorporation of GFA, GBA and GRHA as a partial cement replacement significantly improved compressive strength and chloride penetration resistance. The chloride penetration of blended concrete continuously decreases with an increase in pozzolan content up to 40% of cement replacement and yields the highest reduction in the chloride permeability. Compressive strength of concretes incorporating with these pozzolans was obviously higher than those of the control concretes at all ages. In addition, the nonlinear technique gives a higher degree of accuracy than the linear regression based on statistical parameters and provides fairly reasonable absolute fraction of variance ($R^2$) of 0.974 and 0.960 for the charge passed and chloride penetration depth, respectively.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.345-358
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• 2017

This paper describes the experimental investigation carried out to develop geopolymer concrete using rice husk ash (RHA) along with alccofine. The study reports the fresh and hardened properties of the geopolymer concrete (GPC) activated using alkaline solution. GPC were prepared using different RHA content (350, 375 and $400kg/m^3$), the molarity of the NaOH (8, 12 and 16M). The specimens were cured at $27^{\circ}C$ and $90^{\circ}C$. GPC was activated using NaOH, $Na_2SiO_3$, and alccofine. Prepared GPC samples were tested for compressive and splitting tensile strengths after 3, 7 and 28 days. RHA was suitable to produce geopolymer concrete. Results indicate that behavior of GPC prepared with RHA is similar to fly ash based GPC. Workability and strength can be improved by incorporating the alccofine. Further, alccofine and heat curing improve the early age properties of the GPC. Heat curing is responsible for the initial polymerization of GPC which leads to high workability and improved mechanical properties of the GPC. High strength can be achieved by using the high concentration alkaline solution in terms of molarity and at elevated heat curing. Further, RHA based geopolymer concrete has tremendous potential as a substitute for ordinary concrete.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.173-186
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• 2015

The rapid urbanization in Pakistan is creating a shortage of sustainable construction sites with good soil conditions. Attempts have been made to use rice husk ash (RHA) in concrete industry of Pakistan, however, limited literature is available on its potential to improve local soils. This paper presents an experimental study on engineering properties of low and high plastic cohesive soils blended with 0-20% RHA by dry weight of soil. The decrease in plasticity index and shrinkage ratio indicates a reduction in swell potential of RHA treated cohesive soils which is beneficial for problems related to placing pavements and footings on such soils. It is also observed that the increased formation of pozzolanic products within the pore spaces of soil from physicochemical changes transforms RHA treated soils to a compact mass which decreases both total settlement and rate of settlement. A notable increase in friction angle with increase in RHA up to 16% was also observed in direct shear tests. It is concluded that RHA treatment is a cost-effective and sustainable alternate to deal with problematic local cohesive soils in agro-based developing countries like Pakistan.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 2019

This paper presents the mechanical and microstructural properties of the geopolymer paste which was developed by utilizing the industrial by-products, rice husk ash (RHA) and ultra-fine slag. Ultra-fine slag particles with average particle size in the range of 4 to 5 microns. RHA is partially replaced with ultra-fine slag at different levels of 0 to 50%. Sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio of 1.0 and alkaline liquid to binder (AL/B) ratio of 0.60 is taken. Setting time, compressive, flexural strengths were studied up to the age of 90 days with different concentrations of NaOH. The microstructure of the hybrid geopolymer paste was studied by performing the SEM, EDS, and XRD on the broken samples. RHA based geopolymer paste blended with ultrafine slag resulted in high compressive and flexural strengths and increased setting times of the paste. Strength increased with the increase in NaOH concentration at all ages. The ultra-small particles of the slag acted as a micro-filler into the paste and enhanced the properties by improving the CASH, NASH, and CSH. The maximum compressive strength of 70MPa was achieved at 30% slag content with 16M NaOH. The results of XRD, SEM, and EDS at 30% replacement of RHA with ultra-fine slag densified the paste microstructure.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.379-382
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• 2005

Ocher block has started to be studied recently as a new environment friendly alternative building material. This article investigates the use of Rice Husk Ask (RHA) as an additive to improve properties of the ocher block. Ocher mixtures incorporating various proportions of RHA were compared. Compressive strength at various ages of these ocher blocks was evaluated ad the resistance to wet environment was also examined. These test result help to determine the effect of RHA on such properties of the ocher block as compaction, mix proportion, compressive strength and water absorption indexes. Based on these results, the new alternative building material and low cost construction techniques might be developed through more intensive research efforts.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.111-117
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• 2017

This study examined the material properties of Korean rice husk ash (RHA) according to the manufacturing process, and evaluated the feasibility of its use as a new admixture for high strength concrete. For this purpose, its particle size distribution, chemical composition, and microstructure were analyzed under various parameters, such as calcination temperature ($400^{\circ}C$, $650^{\circ}C$, and $900^{\circ}C$) and the inclusion of a milling process. X-ray fluorescence analysis confirmed that the silicon oxide ($SiO_2$) content of RHA was improved to more than 92% with a calcination process at $650^{\circ}C$ or higher. In addition, microstructural analysis showed that the RHA calcined at $650^{\circ}C$ has a porous structure. Because of this, the absorption capacity of the RHA was improved. On the other hand, when the milling process was applied, the porous structure was destroyed; thus, the absorption capacity tended to decrease further. Based on the analysis results, it was concluded that RHA calcined at $650^{\circ}C$ can be used as an admixture for high strength concrete, which possesses functions of both a shrinkage reducing agent and a pozzolanic activator.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.429-437
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• 2021

In the era of building engineering the intensification of Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) is world-shattering magnetism. It has lot of rewards over ordinary concrete i.e., enrichment in production, cutback in manpower, brilliant retort to load and vibration along with improved durability. In the present study, the mechanical strength of CM-2 (SCC containing 10% of rice husk ash (RHA) as cement replacement and 600 grams of glass fibers per cubic meter) was investigated at various dosages of cement replacement by fly ash (FA) and GGBS. A total of 17 SCC mixtures including two control SCC mixtures (CM-1 and CM-2) were developed for investigating fresh and hardened properties in which, ten ternary cementitious blends of SCC by blending OPC+RHA+FA, OPC+RHA+GGBS and five quaternary cementitious blends (OPC+RHA+FA+GGBS) at different replacement dosages of FA and GGBS were developed with reference to CM-2. For constant water-cement ratio (0.42) and dosage of SP (2.5%), the addition of glass fibers (600 grams/m³) in CM-1 i.e., CM-2 shows lower workability but higher mechanical strength. While fly ash based ternary blends (OPC+RHA+FA) show better workability but lower mechanical strength as FA content increases in comparison to GGBS based ternary blends (OPC+RHA+GGBS) on increasing GGBS content. The pattern for mixtures appeared to exhibit higher workablity as that of the concentration of FA+GGBS rises in quaternary blends (OPC+RHA+FA+GGBS). A decrease in compressive strength at 7-days was noticed with an increase in the percentage of FA and GGBS as cement replacement in ternary and quaternary blended mixtures with respect to CM-2. The highest 28-days compressive strength (41.92 MPa) was observed for mix QM-3 and the lowest (33.18 MPa) for mix QM-5.