Effect of RHA on Strength of M20 Concrete under both Acidic and Non-acidic Medium by Using Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test

Abstract

This work investigates the effects of adding rice husk ash (RHA) on strength of M20 cement concrete under both acidic and non-acidic medium by using NDT i.e., Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test. M20 strength concrete was produced using locally available materials. The rice husk ash (RHA) passing 200 micron and 325-micron sieves taken as a 0% - 20% weight of cement & replacement of cement has been done. The RHA effect on the strength of M20 concrete was also studied. The RHA was obtained by burning rice husk, an agricultural crop-waste material which is abundantly available in the developing countries, at an economical price. There were specimens were casted, cured and tested at 7,28 and 56 days respectively. Sample UPV 3.8 km/s was obtained without any replacement of cement by RHA, and at 12.5% RHA, the UPV value is greater than all the replacement of cement. Test results indicated that strength of cement concrete increased when cement was partially replaced by RHA applied as a pozzolanic material for maintaining same level of workability and there is little nominal variation in UPV value when concrete is cured with acidic medium. This results also indicate that the diminishing the non-ground RHA normal molecule size gives a constructive outcome on the compressive strength of mortar & up to 12.5% of RHA could be advantageously blended with by weight of concrete without antagonistically influencing the strength and toughness properties of cement. For better understanding, we have plotted the graph for the effect of RHA on strength of M20 concrete under both acidic and non-acidic medium using Ultra Sonic Pulse Velocity Test. Keywords: Rice husk ash, strength, Concrete materials, pozzolans, cement replacement, strength of materials