Effect of rice husk ash on the strength and durability characteristics of concrete

This work investigates the effects of adding residual rice husk ash (RHA) from South Vietnam, generated when burning rice husk pellets in the boiler, to cement. To improve pozzolanic reactivity, RHA was ground for 1 h. The non-ground RHA and ground RHA were used to test strength activity index according to ASTM C311. The properties of the concrete were investigated, including compressive strength, concrete electrical resistivity, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. Results show that the non-ground RHA can be applied as a pozzolanic material. Decreasing the non-ground RHA average particle size provides a positive effect on the compressive strength of mortar. Compressive strength of cylindrical concrete in the 47–66 MPa range was obtained in this study. The results also indicate that up to 20% of ground RHA could be advantageously blended with cement without adversely affecting the strength and durability properties of concrete.

► Residual rice husk ash (RHA) from South Vietnam as a pozzolanic material.
► The non-ground RHA can be applied as a pozzolanic material.
► Compressive strength of cylindrical concrete in the 47–66 MPa range was obtained.
► Without adversely affecting the properties of concrete up to 20% of RHA replacement.