Role of Physical, Chemical, and Mineralogical Characteristics of Bagasse Ash as Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Sustainable Concrete

Abstract

Using sugar cane bagasse ash as a pozzolanic material has shown qualities that make it an ideal choice for replacing cement in concrete. This study examined the effects of adding bagasse ash (BA) and ultrafine bagasse ash (UBA) to concrete in incremental proportions ranging from 5% to 30%. The aim was to increase reactivity and the rate of hydration through the grinding effect. The concrete's mechanical properties were examined, such as compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths. The study found that incorporating up to 5% of BA and 15% of UBA into the concrete mix significantly improved compressive strength, flexural strength, and tensile strength. The optimal content of UBA was found to be 30%. The inclusion of UBA also notably enhanced the strength of the concrete, mainly due to the improved utilization of available free lime, which reacts with the reactive silica of BA to generate larger quantities of pozzolanic compounds. This enhancement was not primarily attributed to an increased heat of hydration resulting from the mixture of cement and BA.