IJIRST International Journal for Innovative Research in Science & Technology| Volume 3 | Issue 10 | March 2017

ISSN (online): 2349-6010

Durability Studies on Concrete by using

Groundnut Shell Ash as Mineral Admixture
Dharani D Arivu Thiravida Selvan V
Assistant Professor Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering
SVS college of Engineering, Coimbatore, India SVS college of Engineering, Coimbatore, India

Abstract
This paper illustrates about the use of groundnut shell ash as a mineral admixture for partial replacement of cement. Chemical
analysis for groundnut shell ash was carried out, it shows that it have better pozzolanic properties. Effect of groundnut shell ash
for M25 grade of concrete was investigated. Cement is partially replaced with 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% of groundnut
shell ash. Compressive strength test should be carried at 7 and 28 days of curing. The results shows that compressive strength of
concrete increases at 10% replacement, after that it get decreases due to presence of potassium oxide in ash content which
disrupts the concrete. The durability test shows that the GSA concrete is better resistance to acid, chloride and water absorption.
Keywords: groundnut shell ash, compressive strength test, water absorption test, chloride attack test, Acid attack test
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION

Concrete is one of the most popular materials in construction. When it is reinforced with steel, it has a higher load carrying
capacity. Concrete is a heterogeneous material which is composed of aggregates bonded together with fluid cement. Cement is
the binding material which contains lime, silica, alumina and iron oxide. But the production of cement does not meets our
requirement and causes global warming due to releases of large amount of CO 2 in the environment. To overcome such
difficulties some natural agricultural wastes are used. The agricultural waste such as groundnut shell ash, sugarcane bagasse ash
and rice husk ash etc are used. The use of groundnut shell ash will contribute to the production of higher quality concrete at
lower cost and also reduces the environmental pollution. GSA has better pozzolanic property. It contains silica, lime, magnesium
oxide, iron oxide and aluminium oxide. GSA when react with calcium hydroxide during hydration which forms additional
calcium silicate hydrate gel. The pozzolanic activity of ash increases with increases of time. The addition of GSA in cement
concrete may reduce drying shrinkage, water absorption, but increases the setting time. Increases of setting time are due to slow
reactivity of GSA. The presence of GSA may block the existing pore structure of concrete and thereby increasing its strength and
impermeability. GSA shows improved workability at lower replacement level, reduced permeability, and low heat of hydration
and higher resistance to chemical attack and also smaller diffusion rate of chloride ions resulting in a higher resistance of steel
from corrosion. The main object is to find a solution to reduce the environmental pollution due to cement manufacturing by
using GSA. The chemical composition for groundnut shell is given below.
Table 1
Chemical Composition of Groundnut shell Ash
Ingredient Percentage
Loss of Ignition 7.85
Sand and Silica 53.50
Calcium Oxide 4.68
Magnesium Oxide 2.25
Iron Oxide 4.80
Aluminium Oxide 2.75
Alkalis 18.30

II. MATERIALS

Cement
Ordinary Portland Cement of 53 grade locally available is used in this investigation. The cement is tested for various properties
as per the code IS: 4031-1988 and it is found to be conforming to various specification of IS: 12269-1987 having specific gravity
of 3.15.

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 Durability Studies on Concrete by using Groundnut Shell Ash as Mineral Admixture
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Fine Aggregate
The sand used for this experimental program was locally available and conformed to grading Zone II as per IS: 383-1970. The
sand was first sieved through 4.75mm sieve and having specific gravity of 2.67.
Coarse Aggregate
Coarse aggregates which were locally available having the size of 20mm were used in the experimental work. Testing of coarse
aggregate was done as per IS: 383-1970. The specific gravity of coarse aggregate is 2.87.
Groundnut Shell Ash
The ash was obtained by burning the groundnut shell in the open air under normal temperature. The burnt ash must pass through
a BS sieve of 75 micron. It contains lime, silica, alumina and iron oxide.
Water
Water is a main ingredient of concrete, as it actively participates in the chemical reactions with cement to form the hydration
product such as C-S-H gel. A higher water cement ratio will results in decreases of strength, durability etc. Addition of excess
water ends in formation of undesirable voids in hardened cement paste of concrete. The pH value of water lies between 6 & 8
and it should be free from organic matter, acids and other suspended solids. Locally available water conforming to standard
specified in IS: 456-2000 is used.
Mix design
The Mix proportion for the ordinary grade concrete and standard concrete is designed using IS: 10262-2009. The ratio of
materials required for 1 cubic meter of concrete in ordinary grade concrete M 25 is 1:1.69:2.93 with water cement ratio of 0.47.

III. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

The compressive strength, Split tensile strength and flexural strength for M 25 grade of concrete were investigated. The cube of
150x150x150mm was used. The test should be carried out as per codal provision IS: 516-1959.
Compressive Strength Test
Compressive strength test was carried out on the specimens after 7 and 28 days of curing by compression testing machine. The
test should be carried out as per codal provision IS: 516-1959. Totally 30 cubes were casted. The compressive strength is
calculated as,
Fck=P/A
Where,
Fck= Compressive strength (N/mm2)
P = Ultimate load (N)
A = Loaded area(mm2)
Water Absorption Test
For water absorption 100mm X 100mm X 100mm cube was casted and tested after 28 days continuous curing period. Then after
cube specimen were dried for 24 hours at normal temperature. This weight should be measured in Kg (W1). Then after
specimens were kept in water for 24 hours, this wet weight noted is (W2).
% of water absorption should be calculated is [(W2-W1) / (W1)]*100.
Where W1= oven dry weight of cube.
W2=Wet weight of cube after 24 hours.
Chloride attack Test
The effect of chloride on concrete was studied through this test. Marine structures are subjected to chloride attack and due to the
penetration of chloride the reinforcement is subjected to corrosion. Sodium chloride solution with 3% concentration was used as
the standard exposure. The specimens were immersed in the sodium chloride solution in a tank. To prepare the solution of 3%
concentration for each 100gm solution 97gm of water and 3gm of sodium chloride powder is added. After preparation of the
solution the mould is immersed in solution for 28days, 56 days and 90 days. The compressive strength was calculated by using
the following formula:
Compressive strength = (P/A) N/mm2
Where,
P = ultimate load (load of failure) in Newton
A = area of cube in mm2
Loss of weight = [(W1 W2)/W1] x 100 %
Where,

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 Durability Studies on Concrete by using Groundnut Shell Ash as Mineral Admixture
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W1 = initial weight of concrete specimen

W2 = final weight of concrete specimen
Acid Attack Test
The effect of 10% concentration of sulphuric acid on GSA concrete is given in table. The test result shows that GSA offered
better resistance to deterioration by H2SO4 than portland cement concrete.The enhanced resistance of GSA concrete to sulphuric
acid could be due to depletion in the Ca(OH)2 content released from the hydration process and consumed in the GSA pozzolanic
reaction, with less Ca(OH)2 left to react with sulphuric acid or due to less C3A available to form the more disruptive ettringnite in
the GSA concrete.Acid attack test is shown in figure 4.6. The compressive strength was calculated by using the following
formula:
Compressive strength = (P/A) N/mm2
Where,
P = ultimate load (load of failure) in Newton
A = area of cube in mm2
Loss of weight = [(W1 W2)/W1] x 100 %
Where,
W1 = initial weight of concrete specimen
W2 = final weight of concrete specimen

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Compressive strength test result

Compressive strength test results after 7 and 28 days are given in table. The result shows that the strength gets increases at 10%
replacement of cement by GSA.
Table 2
Compressive Strength Test Results
Average Compressive Strength N/mm2
S.No %Replacement
7 days 28 days
1. CC 20.40 28.67
2. 10 21.02 29.02
3. 15 19.60 25.22
4. 20 16.90 20.58
5. 25 14.43 16.84
6. 30 11.10 15.02
There is an increase in strength of concrete up to 10% replacement of cement by GSA because after the replacement of 10%
the potassium oxide content in GSA gets increases which disrupt the concrete, thereby decreases its strength. This is illustrated in
fig.1

Fig. 1: Average Compressive Strength for all replacement

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 Durability Studies on Concrete by using Groundnut Shell Ash as Mineral Admixture
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Durability Test
Water Absorption Test
Table 3
Water absorption test result for M25 grade concrete after 90 days curing
Type of Concrete Notation Wet Weight (Kg) Dry Weight % Water Absorption % Avg.Water Absorption
CC 1 2.52 2.47 2.024
CC CC 2 2.49 2.43 2.469 2.186
CC 3 2.47 2.42 2.066
GSA 1 2.45 2.41 1.633
GSA GSA 2 2.54 2.49 2.008 1.756
GSA 3 2.50 2.46 1.626
The figure 2 shows that water absorption for conventional concrete is more than optimum mix because the GSA is a fineness
material, it may block the pores in the concrete there by decreases its water absorption capacity.

Fig. 2: Average water absorption Test

Chloride attack test

Table 4
Chloride attack test result for M25 grade concrete after 28, 56 and 90 days curing
Type of concrete Notation Wt. before exposure Wt. after exposure %Weight gain Average compressive strength (N/mm2) Days
CC 28 2.46 2.49 1.205 28.520 28
CC CC 56 2.48 2.52 1.587 27.923 56
CC 90 2.51 2.56 1.953 27.431 90
GSA 28 2.53 2.55 0.780 28.824 28
GSA GSA 56 2.50 2.54 1.575 28.246 56
GSA 90 2.52 2.57 1.946 27.832 90
The figure 3 shows that, the chloride effect is more for conventional concrete compare to optimum concrete. The figure 3
shows that, the chloride effect is more for conventional concrete compare to optimum concrete.

Fig. 3: Average compressive strength for chloride attack test

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 Durability Studies on Concrete by using Groundnut Shell Ash as Mineral Admixture
(IJIRST/ Volume 3 / Issue 10/ 029)

Acid attack test

Table 5
Acid attack test result for M25 grade concrete after 28,56and 90 days curing
Type of concrete Notation Wt. before exposure Wt. after exposure %loss Average compressive strength (N/mm2)
CC 28 2.52 2.47 1.984 28.52
CC CC 56 2.55 2.49 2.353 28.34
CC 90 2.49 2.42 2.811 27.95
GSA 28 2.45 2.41 1.637 28.93
GSA GSA 56 2.43 2.38 2.058 28.67
GSA 90 2.48 2.43 2.016 28.12
The figure 4 shows that there is weight reduction of concrete due acid attack. The acid attack is more severe in Conventional
concrete than optimum mix.

V. CONCLUSION

During this experimental study of groundnut shell ash concrete, it is indicated that a combination of OPC and GSA can be
effectively used to optimize the behavior of concrete. A description is given for an optimum combination of cement and GSA in
concrete. On the basis of the investigations it shows that there is a decrease of strength due to increases of potassium content in
concrete. Addition of GSA in concrete proves to give the desired strength in concrete.
The compressive strength of 10% replacement of GSA shows an increase of 2.95% and 1.21% for 7 and 28 days
respectively when compared to the conventional concrete.
Acid attack and chloride attack test shows that the optimum mix has better resistance to acid and chloride attack when
compare to conventional concrete
Test conducted on water absorption showed that the optimum mix with GSA absorbs only less amount of water when
compared to Conventional mix. This may be attributed to the fineness of GSA that blocks the pores thereby reducing its
water absorption tendency

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