Mechanical performance of concrete incorporating wheat straw ash as partial replacement of cement

This paper presents the results from the experimental investigation of the use of wheat straw ash (WSA) as a partial replacement of Portland cement in concrete mixtures. The WSA was used to replace PC up to 20% and the corresponding mechanical performance of the concrete mixtures evaluated. The mechanical performance of the concrete mixtures was evaluated in terms of its compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, split tensile strength and flexural strength. The effect of the WSA on the workability of the mixtures was also evaluated by assessing the slump of each mixture. The findings from this research showed that the use of WSA as a 10% replacement of the PC is optimum. Concrete mixtures made with 10% WSA as replacement of PC is 12%, 10% and 11% higher in the compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength, respectively compared to the control. It was also found out that the high surface area and absorption of WSA resulted in a decrease in the slump of the concrete mixtures with increasing WSA content. Nonetheless, it was recommended that future studies on the durability performance of these concrete mixtures to be carried out in order to understand the performance of these mixtures in different environments.