Effect of ground bagasse ash on mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concrete

In this study, bagasse ash, which is a large disposal landfill waste from sugar mill industries, is utilized as a pozzolanic material to improve the mechanical properties and durability of recycled aggregate concrete. Ground bagasse ash (GBA) was used to replace Portland cement Type I at the percentages of 20, 35, and 50 by weight of binder. Compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, water permeability, and chloride penetration depth of the concretes were determined. The results revealed that the modulus of elasticity of recycled aggregate concrete with and without GBA was lower than that of conventional concrete by approximately 19%. GBA can be used effectively to reduce the water permeability of recycled aggregate concrete. The increase of GBA content in recycled aggregate concrete results in a significant decrease in chloride penetration depths. In addition, the mechanical properties and durability of recycled aggregate concrete were efficiently improved by using 20% of GBA in the concrete mixtures. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.