Utilization of Rice Husk Ash and Lime as Partial Cement Replacement in Environmentally Friendly Concrete
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69855/sipil.v2i2.899Keywords:
Rice Husk Ash, Hydrated Lime, Partial Cement Replacement, Green Concrete, Compressive Strength, Sustainable ConstructionAbstract
Cement production is a major source of anthropogenic carbon dioxide, and agricultural by-products such as rice husk ash (RHA) offer a practical route to lower-clinker concrete. Purpose: This study investigates the combined use of RHA and hydrated lime as partial cement replacement in environmentally friendly concrete designed for a target compressive strength of 25 MPa. Methods: Five mixtures were prepared with a constant water-to-binder ratio of 0.50 and a binder content of 410 kg/m3: a control mixture (M0) and four mixtures (RL1–RL4) in which 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of the cement mass was replaced by RHA together with 2.5% hydrated lime, giving total cement replacement levels of 7.5% to 22.5%. Slump, unit weight, compressive strength (7, 28, and 56 days), splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, water absorption, and volume of permeable voids were measured. Results: The results show that the mixture with 10% RHA and 2.5% lime (RL2) reached a 28-day compressive strength of 27.8 MPa, 5.3% higher than the control (26.4 MPa). Slump decreased from 95 mm to 62 mm as the RHA content increased, and water absorption changed from 4.8% to 3.9%. Replacing 12.5% of the cement saved 51.25 kg of cement per cubic meter while maintaining the target strength. Conclusion: The findings indicate that RHA-lime blends up to 17.5% replacement can be used for structural concrete of 25 MPa grade, supporting the valorization of rice husk waste in low-carbon construction.
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