Enhancement of mechanical properties and durability of the cement concrete by RHA as cement replacement: Experiments and modeling

Concrete fails to withstand against corrosive environment leads to depassivation, corrosion, expansion and concrete cracking. The present investigation focuses on the testing of the durability of cement concrete in corrosive solutions of 5 wt% H2SO4 and 5 wt% NaCI by adding different types and sizes of RHA. A Taguchi L-27 fractional-factorial matrix was designed to assess the individual effects of relevant process variables. From this study, decreasing RHA size increases the bulk density and pozzolanic reaction rate; decreasing thermal diffusivity increases the durability of RHA incorporated concrete. An empirical model predicts the mechanical strength and durability of RHA incorporated cement concrete satisfactorily. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.