Dr. A.M. Pande, S.G.

Makarande / International Journal of Engineering Research and

Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1718-1723

Effect of Rice Husk Ash on Concrete

Dr. A.M. Pande1and S.G.Makarande2
1 Dean, R & D, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, YCCE, Nagpur, India
2 Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, BDCOE, Sevagram, Wardha, India

Abstract-
In the last decades, the use of residue in
civil construction, especially in addition concrete, developed to improve the mechanical and durability
has been subject of many researches due to, properties of concrete. The potential reactivity of
besides to reduce the environmental polluters aggregate was investigated by the results show that
factors, it may lead several improvements of the adding percentage over 12% of RHA, the expansion
concrete properties. The world rice harvest is is reduced in acceptable levels. In this report, RHA
estimated in 500 million tons per year. obtained by uncontrolled combustion was added to
Considering that 20% of the grain is husk, and concrete. Mechanical properties (compressive
20% of the husk after combustion is converted strength, splitting tensile strength, water absorption
into ash, a total of 20 million tons of ash can be and elasticity modulus) were verified. The samples
obtained. This report evaluates how different were tested at 7 and 28 days of age.
contents of rice husk ash (RHA) added to concrete
The Effect of RHA Average Particle Size on
may influence its physical and mechanical
Mechanical Properties-
properties. Samples with dimensions of 15 X 15
This reports an experimental investigation on the
cm were tested, with 12.5, 25, & 37.5% of RHA,
influence of Rice Husk Ash Average Particle Size
replacing in mass the cement. Properties like
(APS) on the mechanical properties and drying
simple compressive strength, splitting tensile
shrinkage of the produced RHA blended concrete.
strength, water absorption and modulus of
Locally produced RHA with three different APS (i.e.,
elasticity were evaluated. The results were
31.3, 18.3, and 11.5 μm, respectively) were used to
compared to controlled sample and the viability of
replace cement by 12.5%, 25%, & 37.5% of its
adding RHA to concrete was verified.
weight. Mixture proportioning was performed to
produce high workability RHA mixture (200-240 mm
Keywords - Rice husk ash, compressive strength,
slump) with target strength of 40MPa. Incorporation
splitting tensile strength, water absorption and
of RHA in concrete resulted in increased water
modulus of elasticity.
demand, for the mechanical properties, inclusion of
RHA provided similar or enhanced mechanical
1. Introduction
properties when compared to the control Ordinary
Rice husk is an agro-waste material which is
Portland Cement (OPC) mixture, with finer RHA
produced in about 100 million of tons.
giving better improvement. Fine RHA exhibited the
Approximately, 20 Kg of rice husk are obtained for
highest shrinkage value due to the effect of micro
100 Kg of rice. Rice husks contain organic
fine particles which increases its shrinkage values
substances and 20% of inorganic material. Rice husk
considerably.
ash (RHA) is obtained by the combustion of rice
husk.
The most important property of RHA that determines 2. Materials used
pozzolanic activity is the amorphous phase content.
Rice Husk Ash:
RHA is a highly reactive pozzolanic material suitable
for use in lime-pozzolana mixes and for Portland The Rice Husk Ash Used in this work was
cement replacement. RHA contains a high amount of made in the laboratory by burning the husk using a
silicon dioxide, and its reactivity related to lime Ferro cement furnace, with incinerating temperature
depends on a combination of two factors, namely the not exceeding 7000 c. The ash was grinded using Los
non-crystalline silica content and its specific surface. Angeles mill for 180, 270 and 360 minutes, The XRD
analysis were performed to determine the silica form
Research on producing rice husk ash (RHA) that can
of the produced RHA Powder samples. RHA samples
be incorporated to concrete and mortars are not
were scanned by electron microscope to show the
recent. In 1973, researchers investigated the effect of
RHA’s multi layered and micro porous surface.
pyro processing on the pozzolanic reactivity of RHA.
Since then, a lot of studies have been Other Materials:

1|Page
 Dr. A.M. Pande, S.G.Makarande / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1718-1723

Other materials used in the concrete mixture were for the elastic modulus compared to the OPC
Portland cement, coarse aggregate of 20 mm concrete.
maximum size and mining sand of 5 mm maximum
size as fine aggregate. The fineness modulus for the 3.4 Splitting tensile strength
coarse aggregate and fine aggregate were 2.43 and All the replacement degrees of RHA researched,
4.61 respectively. The Sp used is sulphonated achieve similar results in splitting tensile strength.
naphthalene formaldehyde condensed polymer based According to the results, may be realized that there is
admixture. no interference of adding RHA in the splitting tensile
strength.
Mix proportion:
3.5 Drying Shrinkage
The purpose of this investigation was to make the The results showed that the RHA average
concrete with targets of 28-day Compressive strength particle size had a significant effect on the drying
of at least 40 MPa. Proportion of mixtures was shrinkage, the 37.5% concrete Mixture exhibited
selected basing on these targets. The RHA was trialed higher shrinkage value than the control. 25%
to replace for cement with various ratios, namely 0, concrete was comparable, while the shrinkage for
12.5, 25, and 37.5 % by mass of cement. Ratio of 12.5% was lower compared to the control. The
water per total cement binder (cement plus RHAs) reduction in the RHA particle size increased the
was fixed at 0.48. pozzolanic activity and contributed to the pore
refinement of the RHA concrete paste matrix. Thus,
3. Effects of adding RHA on the it can be concluded that the addition of micro fine
properties of concrete particles to concrete would increase the drying
shrinkage. Many researchers showed that concretes
3.1 Effect of RHA APS on Workability & Density of incorporating pore refinement additives will usually
concrete show higher shrinkage and creep values. On the other
The fresh properties of all the concrete hand, others showed that using pozzolanic materials
mixtures are given. The slump was in the range of as cement replacement will reduce the shrinkage.
(210-230 mm), bleeding was negligible for the 3.6 Compressive Strength:
control mixture. For concretes incorporating RHA, The strength development at various ages is given
no bleeding or segregation was detected. The fresh below. It can be noted that at early ages the strength
density was in range of (2253-2347 kg/m3), the was comparable, while at the age of 28 days, finer
lowest density values were for mixture this is due to RHA exhibited higher strength than the sample with
the low specific gravity of RHA which lead to coarser RHA. This is due to the higher fineness of
reduction in the mass per unit volume. The concrete RHA which may allowed the RHA particles to
incorporating finer RHA resulted in denser concrete increase the reaction with Ca(OH)2 to give more
matrix. calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) resulted in higher
The SP content had to be increased along with the compressive strength.
RHA fineness and percentage, this due to the high
specific surface area of RHA which would increase 4. Results and discussion
the water demand therefore, to maintain high Following results shows the effect of
workability, Sp content rose up to 2.00 % for the percentage and fineness of RHA on the compressive
mixture. strength of concrete,
4.1 % Strength achieved for M20 grade concrete with
3.2 Water absorption
The results reveal that higher substitution 12.5%, 25% & 37.5% RHA:
amounts results in lower water absorption values, it
occurs due to the RHA is finer than cement. Adding
10% of RHA to the concrete, a reduction of 38.7% in
water absorption is observed when compared
controlled mixture.
3.3 Static Modulus of Elasticity:
The values of the static modulus of elasticity were in
the range of 29.6 - 32.9 GPa. It can be noted that the
addition of RHA to concrete exhibited marginal
increase on the elastic properties, the highest value
was recorded for mixture due to the increased
reactivity of the RHA. Concretes incorporating
pozzolanic materials usually show comparable values

1719 | P a g e
 Dr. A.M. Pande, S.G.Makarande / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1718-1723

The average achieved strength is found to be more

% OF STRENGTH ACHIEVED AS COMPARED
140.00 TO PCM for M20 grade (75 micron) for 90 days and then it lesser for 28 days and 7 days
using 75 micron RHA. The average strength achieved
120.00 123.81 is more for 12.5 % RHA as compared to other
proportions. One of the samples recorded to achieve
% STRENGTH ACHIEVED

110.77
93.48
89.10 88.61102.90 123.81% strength for 90 days of curing as compared
100.00 88.28
82.50 93.65 to PCC.
76.49
80.00 82.54 When 150 micron RHA is used, again the average
64.72 67.3776.92 73.91 73.85 73.91
56.85 7 DAYS
54.92 achieved strength is found to be more for 90 days and
60.00 51.56 52.41 48.10
43.59 40.51 46.90
47.4328 DAYS it is lesser for 28 days and 7 days. The % strength
37.18 achieved was in the range of 85%-90% for 7 days
40.00 90 Days
when compared to PCC. Then, it reduced
considerably for 28 and 90 days of curing.
20.00
At the least, the minimum achieved strength was for
0.00
25% of RHA using 75 micron. After complete 90
days of curing it was 67.37%. For 150 micron the
12.5 12.5 12.5 25 25 25 37.5 37.5 37.5
minimum achieved strength was for 37.5% of RHA.
% of RHA After complete 90 days of curing it was 34.78%.
It can also be observed that when finer RHA was
used (i.e. 75 micron), the % strength achieved was
% OF STRENGTH ACHIEVED AS COMPARED higher as compared to RHA size of 150 micron.
140.00 TO PCM for M20 grade (150 micron) From the above discussion it is observed that, when
75 micron RHA is used, the percentage of strength
120.00 achieved for 90 days is higher as that of PCC,
% STRENGTH ACHIEVED

99.31
whereas it is found lesser in case of 28 days & 7
100.00 89.74
86.62
84.21 82.28 days.
93.65
77.47 77.47 Therefore from all above discussion it can be
80.00 83.85 72.18 68.2882.54
79.71 64.56
64.10
63.16 73.91 interpreted that concrete tends to achieve 85-100 %
69.23 7 DAYS
60.00 for 12.5 % RHA, and 65-90% for 25% and 37.5% of
44.13
28 DAYS RHA.
37.90 41.25
40.00 30.38 30.3441.27
90 Days It is observed that strength gain becomes slow when
23.0838.46 34.78 RHA is used and strength is reduced for higher % of
20.00 RHA for both 75 micron and 150 micron of RHA.

0.00 % Strength achieved for M25 grade concrete with

12.5 12.5 12.5 25 25 25 37.5 37.5 37.5 12.5%, 25% & 37.5% RHA:
% of RHA % OF STRENGTH ACHIEVED AS COMPARED
180.00 TO PCM for M25 grade (75 micron)
160.00
% strength achieved 154.93
Days RHA
% STRENGTH ACHIEVED

140.00 144.00
(In the avg. range of) 121.33 134.62
120.00 106.25109.93
106.98
93.33
75µ 150µ 100.00
80.33 77.33
88.73 70.9388.46
86.67 7 DAYS
7 days 12.5% 75-80% 77-80% 80.00 63.93 65.63
57.78 58.02 28 DAYS
7 days 25% 64-68% 65-70% 60.00
7 days 37.5% 50-52% 38-41% 39.3449.30 90 Days
34.88
32.0650.00
41.33
31.11 31.2533.33
40.00
28 days 12.5% 88-89% 87-92%
28 days 25% 44-46% 64-68% 20.00
28 days 37.5% 40-44% 25-30% 0.00
90 days 12.5% 110-114% 82-85%
12.5 12.5 12.5 25 25 25 37.5 37.5 37.5
90 days 25% 80-85% 70-74%
90 days 37.5% 75-77% 39-42%
% of RHA

The % strength achieved can be interpreted as

follows:

1720 | P a g e
 Dr. A.M. Pande, S.G.Makarande / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1718-1723

days of curing it was 33.33%. For 150 micron the

% OF STRENGTH ACHIEVED AS COMPARED
TO PCM for M25 grade (150 micron) minimum achieved strength was for 25% of RHA.
120.00 After complete 90 days of curing it was 64.53%.
It can also be observed that when finer RHA was
100.00 98.59 100.00 used (i.e. 75 micron), the % strength achieved was
% STRENGTH ACHIEVED

92.31 higher as compared to RHA size of 150 micron.

73.33 81.33 However it showed an steep decline for higher
80.00 68.00
77.46
62.22 60.94 62.60 61.11 64.5373.08 percentages of RHA.
59.02 57.56 70.42 68.0071.79
60.00 51.64 7 DAYS From the above discussion it is observed that, when
47.33 46.67 47.67
42.62 42.97 44.27
40.6328 DAYS
75 micron RHA is used, the percentage of strength
achieved for 90 days is higher as that of PCC,
40.00 30.00 90 Days
whereas it is found lesser in case of 28 days & 7
days.
20.00
Therefore from all above discussion it can be
interpreted that concrete tends to achieve 75-85% for
0.00 12.5 % RHA, and 90-110% for 25% and 37.5% of
12.5 12.5 12.5 25 25 25 37.5 37.5 37.5 RHA.
% of RHA It is observed that strength gain becomes slow when
RHA is used and strength is reduced for higher % of
RHA for both 75 micron and 150 micron of RHA.
% strength achieved % Strength achieved for M30 grade concrete with
Days RHA
(In the avg. range of) 12.5%, 25% & 37.5% RHA:
75µ 150µ % OF STRENGTH ACHIEVED AS COMPARED
120.00 TO PCM for M30 grade (75 micron)
7 days 12.5% 94-98% 57-59% 105.71105.08
100.00
100.00 93.33
7 days 25% 59-62% 43-46%
% STRENGTH ACHIEVED

83.33 86.44
76.92
7 days 37.5% 30-32% 44-47% 80.00 72.92
67.65
58.33
28 days 12.5% 105-110% 62-66% 52.86 54.41 54.24
60.00 47.34 7 DAYS
54.55 53.04 55.08 47.14 44.97
39.58
49.15 36.46 28 DAYS
28 days 25% 65-70% 63-65% 45.45 45.22
40.00
90 Days
28 days 37.5% 30-32% 39-44% 27.27 26.96 28.81
20.00

90 days 12.5% 138-142% 95-98%

0.00
90 days 25% 86-88% 75-78% 12.5 12.5 12.5 25 25 25 37.5 37.5 37.5
% of RHA
90 days 37.5% 86-88% 75-78%

The % strength achieved can be interpreted as % OF STRENGTH ACHIEVED AS COMPARED

follows: 120.00 TO PCM for M30 grade (150 micron)
105.71105.08
100.00
95.86
The average achieved strength is found to be more 100.00
% STRENGTH ACHIEVED

for 90 days and then it lesser for 28 days and 7 days 81.25 83.82
using 75 micron RHA. The average strength achieved 80.00
is more for 12.5 % RHA as compared to other
proportions. One of the samples recorded to achieve 60.00 7 DAYS
154.93% strength for 90 days of curing as compared 54.55 56.52 57.20 42.60
37.1428
36.69
DAYS
to PCC. 40.00
33.3340.91
32.86 30.51
38.26 28.1336.36 36.52 38.14
When 150 micron RHA is used, again the average 25.00 34.75 90 Days
21.19
20.59 18.33
achieved strength is found to be more for 90 days and 14.71
20.00
it is lesser for 28 days and 7 days. One of the samples
recorded to achieve 100% strength for 90 days of
curing as compared to PCC. 0.00
At the least, the minimum achieved strength was for 12.5 12.5 12.5 25 25 25 37.5 37.5 37.5
37.5% of RHA using 75 micron. After complete 90 % of RHA

1721 | P a g e
 Dr. A.M. Pande, S.G.Makarande / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1718-1723

% strength achieved 5. CONCLUSION

Days RHA
(In the avg. range of) Based on above results of concrete mixes,
75µ 150µ the following conclusions can be drawn,

7 days 12.5% 90-95% 50-55%  Mixes show higher compressive rather than
normal concrete.
7 days 25% 75-80% 45-48%  Replacement of 12.5 % of cement with rice husk
ash in matrix causes reduction in utilization of
7 days 37.5% 53-56% 15-18% cement and expenditures. Also can improve
quality of concrete at the age of 90 days.
28 days 12.5% 80-85% 85-90%  Results indicate that pozzolanic reactions of rice
husk ash in the matrix composite were low in
28 days 25% 80-85% 85-90% early ages, but by aging the specimens to 90
days, considerable effect have been seen in
28 days 37.5% 80-85% 85-90%
strength.
90 days 12.5% 45-47% 54-56%  According to study, addition of pozzolans like
rice husk ash to the concrete, can improve the
90 days 25% 45-50% 34-36% mechanical properties of specimens.

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 Dr. A.M. Pande, S.G.Makarande / International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 3, Issue 1, January -February 2013, pp.1718-1723

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