ABSTRACT

Rice Husk Ash (RHA) is one of the most active research areas that encompass a number of disciplines including civil engineering and construction materials. Grinded rice husk (GRH) and RHA is an agricultural waste product which is produced in large quantities globally every year. As the rice husk is piling up every day, there is a pressure on rice industries to find a solution for its disposal. Therefore as part ofa means to curbing this impending pollution problem. It is most essential to develop eco-friendly uses from rice husk. RHA can be used in concrete to improve its compressive strength while GRH can be used in the production of concrete blocks and bricks. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) cement was partially replaced by RHA and GRH individually at 10%, 20% and 30% by weight of cement for a specific water/cement ratio. The slump test to determine the workability of the concrete and the compressive test was carried out for 7, 14 and 40 days to measure the compressive strength. The slump value obtained from the control mix was 50 mm while cement partially replaced by RHA at 10 %, 20%, and 30% were 60 mm, 68 mm, and 76 mm respectively and cement partially replaced by GRH at IO%, 20% and 30% was 32 mm, 15 mm, and 5 mm respectively. The control mix at 40 days has a peak compressive strength of 49.07 N/mm 2 while cement partially replaced by RHA at IO%, 20%, 30% were 50.24 N/mm2, 40.53 N/mm 2 , and 40.20 N/mm 2 respectively and cement partially replaced by GRH at IO % was 45.4 7 N/mm 2 at 40 days. The cement partially replaced by GRH at 20 % and 30% failed at the casting stage. This research concludes that 10% RHA is the optimum content for getting nearly equal strength at 40 days. Replacement of cement with Rice Husk Ash leads to increase in the compressive strength improved the workability and achieved the target strength at 10% replacement for the grade of concrete.