Structural Performance of Glass Concrete Made from Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash Cement

Abstract

Due to the increasing price, demand, consumption of cement, and environmental impacts of solid waste build up, researchers and scientists are in search of developing alternatives to aggregates and binders, which are cheaper, eco-friendly and contribute towards waste management. This research presents findings of sugar cane bagasse ash cement properties and its effects when used in making glass concrete in terms of strength and structural responses. Sugar cane bagasse ash was used to replace cement in the proportions of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% by mass and crushed glass used to replace sand in the proportion of 30% in concrete mix of 1:2:4 (class 20) at varying water cement ratios. From the consistency, setting times and chemical composition tests, results of the findings showed that sugar cane bagasse ash can replace cement up to a maximum of 10%, providing allowable consistency, initial and final setting and cement with required chemical compositions according to the required standards. Good workability can be achieved if sugar cane bagasse is used to replace cement at 10% and glass used to replace fine aggregates at 30%, maintaining a water cement ratio of 0.6. The compressive, flexural and tensile split tests showed that the strengths of the various mixes were lower as compared to the control mix. Also, significant increase up to 10% replacement of cement with sugar cane bagasse ash and 30% replacement of fine aggregates with crushed glass was noted achieving a 70% 28-days strength at 7 days. The structural behavior of glass concrete beams made using sugar cane bagasse ash cement showed that deflections were within the allowable limit of 20mm as per BS 8110-1 (1997) for replacement of cement with SCBA up to 15% and replacement of sand with crushed glass up to 30%. The general behavior of the beams was that the higher the proportions of sugar cane bagasse ash in the mix at 30% glass composition, the less the strains induced in the beam produced. Also, at initial loads, the strains were seen to increase then remain constant over the loading time. In conclusion, it was recommended that, for best results, cement could be replaced with sugar cane bagasse ash at 10% and fine aggregates replaced with crushed glass at 30% and a good workability achieved. This mix containing sugar cane bagasse ash and crushed glass can be used for lightly loaded beams in buildings provided the engineers design mix for the members is 1:2:4 or class 20.