International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology

Vol. 29, No. 7, (2020), pp. 866-874

Behaviour of Concrete Using Bottom Ash as Fine Aggregate

Dr.M.Harihanandh#1, Dr.R.Gopi#2, Dr.M.Saravanan#3
#1&#2
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Marri Laxman Reddy Institute of
Technology and Management, India -500043
#3
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Marri Laxman Reddy Institute of Technology
and Management, India -500043
1
[email protected],2 [email protected], 3 [email protected]

Abstract
Cement is the mostly used construction materials in the world. The utilisation of concrete attains the
second place next to water utilisation. Concrete is the most highly consumed substance about 600
crore tons created every year. In this century, the concrete has treated as the foremost building
material for the infrastructure needs. In the present scenario, no construction activity can be
imagined without using concrete, the reason is its high strength and durability. Fine aggregate
scarcity is increasing day to day activities of construction work. So, the alternate for fine aggregate
has to be found. Here, the bottom ash is the waste matter derived from the thermal power plants and
used as substitute material for fine aggregate. In order to achieve the theme, the bottom ash has
replaced with fine aggregate in the concrete by 25%, 50% and 100%. Also the fresh concrete and
hardened concrete properties were studied; the test results are compared with usual concrete (CC)
specimens. The above work was carried on M25 grade mix.
Keywords — Conventional concrete, concrete with bottom ash, chemical constituents in the bottom
ash, SEM of bottom ash concrete, biased replacement for sand, tests on fresh concrete, tests on
mechanical properties

I. INTRODUCTION
The requirement of construction materials is increasing every day due to its utmost usage.
Therefore, there is a need to explore alternative building materials using other resources or waste
materials. Scarcity of fine aggregate is increasing due irregular process of river. So we are using
alternate materials of M sand or P sand. But they also a derivatives from the quarry so that also
making some environment pollution. Bottom ash is the throw away substance developed from the
power plant and they have the similar properties as like as fine aggregate and by using that ash, we
can reduce the environment pollution and have clear dumping yard since bottom ash has pozzolonic
nature in it [1]. If we are not concentrating on water powder ratio, the addition of bottom ash should
affect the workability properties [2], [3]. So in this research paper, an effort has been made to utilize
the bottom ash is the substitute material for fine aggregate for the regular construction work. This
bottom ash is an effective alternative construction material for making concrete, filling material also
economical, and environment friendly as well as provides same quality as that of a normal fine
aggregate.

II. MATERIAL USED AND ITS PROPERTIES

In this work, for making concrete the following materials has been used and their properties are as
follows. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), fine aggregate from clean river, crushed rock of size 10
mm and 20 mm, bottom ash from thermal power plants and potable water.
A. Water
Normal potable water is used for mixing of concrete ingredients.
B. Cement
The OPC of grade 53 from Ultratech, confirming to IS: 12269:1987 and IS: 8112-1989 is used in
this experimental project.

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 International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology
Vol. 29, No. 7, (2020), pp. 866-874

TABLE I
PROPERTIES OF CEMENT
Characteristics of Values
S.No
Cement Obtained
Normal
1 32%
Consistency
Initial Setting
2 45 min
Time
3 Final Setting Time 240 min
4 Specific gravity 3.15
C. Fine Aggregate
The natural river sand has been used in this research work as to confirm IS: 2386 – 1968: Part III.
Their properties listed.
TABLE II
PROPERTIES OF FINE AGGREGATE
Values
S.No Physical Properties
Obtained
1 Specific gravity 2.55
2 Fineness Modulus 292
3 Water Absorption 2%
4 Bulk density (kg/m3) 2360
D. Coarse Aggregate
The coarse aggregate which derived from the rock (stone quarries) of size 10mm and 20mm were
utilised as per IS 383.
TABLE III
PROPERTIES OF COARSE AGGREGATE
Values
S.No Physical Properties
Obtained
1 Specific gravity 2.78
2 Fineness Modulus 8.64
3 Water Absorption 0.40%
4 Bulk density (kg/m3) 2810
Free moisture content
5 0.20%
(%)
E. Bottom Ash
Bottom ash is the throw away substance developed from the thermal power plants during the
process of coal combustion. When we doing the combustion/burning process, the light particles which
are tried to settle in the side walls of the chimney are called as fly ash and the residues which have
heavier particle size and settles themselves at the bottom hopper of the furnace is called as bottom ash.
The specific gravity of bottom ash is 2.10. The bottom ash has gone for X-Ray Diffraction test to
know its chemical constituents [4].

Fig 1: Bottom Ash

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 International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology
Vol. 29, No. 7, (2020), pp. 866-874

The X – Ray Diffraction image displayed in Fig.4 contains the chemical constituents present in the
bottom ash. Silicon dioxide and Aluminium silicon oxide these are the two constituents present in this
bottom ash. This bottom ash is collected from Nalgonda, Telangana.
TABLE IV
QUANTITIES OF INGREDIENTS OF CONCRETE MIX
Bottom
Water Cement F.A C.A
Mix Ash
(Ltrs) (Kg) (Kg) (Kg)
(Kg)
CC 225 450 646 - 1056
BA-
225 450 485 161.5 1056
25
BA-
225 450 323 323 1056
50
BA-
225 450 - 646 1056
100

Fig 2: Mix Design – Conventional Concrete

III. TESTS ON CONCRETE
Tests on concrete have been done in two state of concrete one is at fresh state, such as slump cone
test, compaction factor test and at hardened state such as compressive strength test, split tensile test
and flexural strength test.
A. Slump Cone Test
The ability of concrete to flow is called as consistency. The concrete which have good consistency,
assures better concreting work with fewer efforts also the strength of the concrete never
affected/lowered because of consistency by adding water. The consistency of concrete or fluidity of
concrete is measured by the slump cone test using concrete at fresh state. So admixtures should be
used instead of water to achieve higher slump.

Fig 3: Measuring of slump

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Vol. 29, No. 7, (2020), pp. 866-874

Fig 4: XRD Image – Bottom Ash

B. Compaction Factor Test
The compaction factor test is a test used to find the workability of concrete and the procedure to do
this test has been given by IS: 1199 - 1959. Compaction factor test equipment has upper hopper, lower
hopper and collection cylinder. Top hopper has filled with fresh concrete and the door has opened so
that the concrete is allowed to fill in the bottom hopper. Same way, the lower hopper door is opened,
so that the concrete is allowed to fall in the cylinder placed at the bottom. This concrete with cylinder
is weighed as (W1) and said to moderately compact concrete. Same cylinder has filled with fresh
concrete and compacted well with table vibrator and weighed as W2. This weight is said that wholly
compacted concrete (W2). The ratio between these values is called as compaction factor of fresh
concrete.
C. Compressive Strength Test
The concrete cubes were prepared and immersed into curing for 28 days. After 28days of
immersion in water, the cubes were taken out for finding its compression strength. This 28days of
water curing is used to improve the strength by increasing the hydration process, reducing the
shrinkage effects. CTM was used to find the load taken by the cubes, and the machine has displayed
the load taken by the cubes. The average compressive strength of cubes has been calculated.
Compressive strength of cube = P / A
Where, P = Compressive load in N
A = Surface area of cube

Fig 5: Compressive test on cubes

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 International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology
Vol. 29, No. 7, (2020), pp. 866-874

D. Split Tensile Strength Test

The cylindrical specimen of dimension 150 mm diameters, 300mm height has been used to find the
split tensile strength of concrete. In the CTM, the specimen has placed transversely, and the load has
applied through the contact surface of the specimen until its get failure along its longitudinal direction.
The average split tensile strength of concrete has calculated.
Split tensile strength = 2P/ (ΠDL)
Where, P = Compressive load on the cylinder
L = Height of the cylinder
D = diameter of the cylinder

Fig 6: Split Tensile Test on Cylinders

E. Flexural Strength Test
When concrete is subjected to bending stress, compressive as well as tensile stresses are developed
at top and bottom fibers respectively. The strength shown by the concrete beam specimen against
bending is known as flexural strength. The flexural strength of the specimen is expressed in terms of
modulus of rupture.
Modulus of rupture is the calculated in the extreme bottom fibre of the beam which has the
maximum theoretical tensile stress value during the flexural test. The standard size of beam specimen
is 100x100x500mm as per IS 516-1964. The bed of testing machine should be provided with two
rollers of 38mm in dia, the spacing between these two rollers is 400mm c/c for 100mm specimen. The
load is applied through two similar rollers mounted at one third points (133mm c/c) of the supporting
span. The load is distributed equally to the two loading rollers. So that the beam receives the applied
load axially on it. The maximum load is applied and that recorded until the specimen gets failure.

Fig 7: Flexure Test on Prism

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The workability test includes slump cone and compaction factor tests. From the test results the
concrete have good workability even after the replacement of bottom ash with fine aggregate.
Mechanical properties tests contain compressive strength test, split tensile test and modulus of rupture
test. In this, the bottom ash of 25% replacement with fine aggregate performs well in the all above
tests. Workability tests are used to find the ease of work of concrete while placing. Here the bottom
ash are added in concrete in order to check the restriction in the flow of concrete the slump cone and
compaction factor tests were done. From the test results, the replacement of bottom ash does not
affect the flow of concrete.

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 International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology
Vol. 29, No. 7, (2020), pp. 866-874

A. Slump Cone Test

The slump cone tests for the fresh concrete of different replacement percentage of bottom ash with
the fine aggregate are listed in Table.5. As per IS recommendation, all the slump are in true slump
category. So its proved that the replacement of bottom ash did not arrest the flow of fresh concrete
due to its properties similar to the fine aggregate.
TABLE V
QUANTITIES OF INGREDIENTS OF CONCRETE MIX
Slump value Type of Slump
Mix
in(mm) as per IS
CC 36 True Slump
BA-25 25 True Slump
BA-50 26 True Slump
BA-100 14 True Slump

Fig 8: Slump cone test results

B. Compaction Factor Test
The compaction factor tests for the fresh concrete of different replacement percentage of bottom
ash with the fine aggregate are listed in Table.6. The found values are under IS recommendation and
proves that the bottom ash is good replecement material for fine aggregate.
TABLE VI
COMPACTION FACTOR TEST RESULTS
Compaction
Mix Designation
Factor
CC 0.94
BA-25 0.98
BA-50 0.9
BA-100 0.86

Fig 9: Compaction factor test results

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 International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology
Vol. 29, No. 7, (2020), pp. 866-874

In order to find the characteristics of strength, the following tests such as, compressive strength on
cubes, split tensile test on cylinder and modulus of rupture on prism were made. From the tests results,
the 25% of substitution of bottom ash with fine aggregate possess good strength among all the mixes.
C. Compressive Strength Test on Cubes
Compressive strength have made on the cube specimen has the size of 100mmX100mmX100mm.
These cubes were gone for test in compressive testing machine after 28 days of water curing. The test
results are listed in Table 7.
The conventional concrete has the value of 26.8 MPa, and the concrete with bottom ash of 25%,
50% and 100% replacement with fine aggregate attains the values of 29 MPa, 20.7 MPa and 15.3
MPa. The 25% replacement of bottom ash attains the strength 8% more than the strength of CC, and
the 50% and 100% replecement of bottom ash attains the strength 23% and 43% lower than the
strength of CC. The result values proves the concrete have best performance when the bottom ash
have 25% replacement with the fine aggregate. The improvement in the strength caused by the proper
bonding by the bottom ash with concrete ingredients because of its silicon oxides fills the pores [5], [6]
and for the reduction in strength when 50% and 100% replcement caused due to the presence of fine
particels in the bottom ash.

Fig 10: Compression strength test results

TABLE VII
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ON CUBES
Mix Compressive strength
Designation in N/mm2
CC 26.8
BA-25 29.0
BA-50 20.7
BA-100 15.3
D. Split Tensile Strength Test on Cylinders:
The conventional concrete cylinders has the split tensile strength after 28 days of water curing is
3.14 MPa, and the concrete with bottom ash of 25%, 50% and 100% replacement with fine aggregate
attains the values of 4.61 MPa, 2.97 MPa and 2.20 MPa. The 25% replacement of bottom ash attains
the strength 47% more than the strength of CC, and the 50% and 100% replecement of bottom ash
attains the strength 5% and 30% lower than the strength of CC.
The increase in split tensile strength by the 25% replacement of bottom ash gives due to its proper
bonding of concrete materials and it allows good elastic nature between the materials due to its silicon
oxides.

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 International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology
Vol. 29, No. 7, (2020), pp. 866-874

TABLE VIII
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ON CUBES
Mix Split tensile
Designation strength in N/mm2
CC 3.14
BA-25 4.61
BA-50 2.97
BA-100 2.2

Fig 11: Split tensile strength test results

E. Modulus of Rupture Test on Prism:
The conventional concrete prism has the flexural strength after 28 days of water curing is 12.1 MPa,
and the concrete with bottom ash of 25%, 50% and 100% replacement with fine aggregate attains the
values of 13.2 MPa, 10.7 MPa and 8.3 MPa. The 25% replacement of bottom ash attains the strength
9% more than the strength of CC, and the 50% and 100% replecement of bottom ash attains the
strength 12% and 31% lower than the strength of CC.
TABLE IX
MODULUS OF RUPTURE STRENGTH OF PRISM
Modulus of
Mix
rupture strength
Designation
in N/mm2
CC 12.1
BA-25 13.2
BA-50 10.7
BA-100 8.3

Fig 12: Modulus of rupture strength test results

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 International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology
Vol. 29, No. 7, (2020), pp. 866-874

Fig 13: SEM image of concrete with 25% of bottom ash

The increase in flexural strength by the 25% replacement of bottom ash gives due to its proper
bonding of concrete materials and the prism have good yielding capacity rather than other concrete
member [6]. The presence of silicon oxides in the bottom ash helps to ensure good bonding, making
high density between the concrete ingredients which helps to resist high amount of load.
V. CONCLUSION:
The process of substituting 25%, 50% and 100% of bottom ash as fine aggregate in the concrete
was studied and the concrete properties at fresh and hardened state were measured. In that the
concrete with 25% of bottom ash as repleced with fine aggregate has performed well in the hardened
concrete tests.
1. From the X ray diffraction image, the bottom ash has silicon oxides in it. It helps to make
good bonding between the concrete ingredients when it is in optimum level it leads to have
high strength concrete.
2. The concrete with the bottom ash, does not affect the flow ability and consistency of fresh
concrete.
3. The concrete designated as BA-25 has the compressive strength of 29 MPa which is 8%
more than the strength of CC specimen.
4. The concrete designated as BA-25 has the split tensile strength of 4.61 MPa which is 47%
more than the strength of CC specimen.
5. The concrete designated as BA-25 has the modulus of rupture strength of 13.2 MPa which
is 9% more than the strength CC specimen.
6. Scanning Electron Microscope image shows the silicon oxides present in the bottom ash
helps to make dense concrete.

REFERENCES
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[5] Akkadath Abdulmatin, Weerachart Tangchirapat, Chai Jaturapitakkul “An investigation of bottom ash as a pozzolanic
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[6] Ratchayut Kasemchaisiri and Somnuk Tangtermsirikul “Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete in Corporating
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