A Review of the Engineering Properties of Concrete with Paper Mill Waste Ash - Towards Sustainable Rigid Pavement Construction

The drastic surge in urbanisation and construction-related activities is increasing the demand for cement and aggregates, especially for concrete production. Concrete is utilised for a wide variety of structural applications, including rigid pavements construction, due to its superior strength and durability performance. However, the production of cement increases carbon footprint; and the source of natural aggregates depletes. Hence, there is an increased demand for pavement designs that incorporate sustainable materials and maintain a consistent level of service. In rigid pavements construction, this can be achieved with the integration of alternate binder systems, such as paper mill ash (PMA). This paper presents a systematic review of the engineering properties of PMA as a partial cement replacement material for sustainable concrete production. The review is focused on the influence of PMA on the engineering properties of concrete. The main advantages and limitation of using PMA were highlighted and discussed. Grey areas for possible research exploit were also identified. Based on the superior tensile strength (2.68-3.98 MPa) and flexural strength (4.04-5.01 MPa) documented in the various works of literature reviewed, it can be concluded that PMA is a feasible alternative binder material for rigid pavement applications. This, coupled with its negligible CO(2e)emission value, indicate that PMA is beneficial to the sustainability and serviceability states of rigid pavements. The viewpoint of this review will be useful for researchers and stakeholders in the construction industry to acquire more understanding of PMA concrete.

Automated summary

The growing urbanization and construction activities have led to an increased demand for cement and aggregates, especially for concrete production. To improve sustainability and service levels, research in rigid pavement construction has found that paper mill ash can be a feasible alternative binding material.