Durability Performance of Kenaf Fibre Foamed Concrete Produced with Rice Husk Ash as Partial Replacement for Cement

Abstract

This study investigated the durability performance of kenaf fibre foamed concrete produced with rice husk ash (RHA) as partial replacement of cement. The research investigated foamed concrete with a design density of 1600 kg/m³, cured in water at 7,14, 28, 56, and 90 days. Test conducted on foamed concrete include density, compressive strength, split tensile strength flexural strength, sorptivity, fire resistance and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity. The maximum compressive strength at 28 days was the control which achieved 14.69 N/mm².while the maximum split tensile strength was 2.41 N/mm² with 0.5% kenaf fibre addition. The fire resistance of foamed concrete reduced as the temperature increases. The strength of foamed concrete at elevated temperature of 400⁰C is minimally reduced. The Ultrasonic pulse velocity decreased with increase in the percentage addition of kenaf fibre. The UPV of all concrete samples fell within 3.0-4.5 m/s for concrete of good quality. The findings of this study also showed that at 0.5% kenaf fibre addition, the tensile property of foamed concrete is significantly improved. Also, the presence of kenaf fibre and rice husk ash increased the permeation properties of foamed concrete. The study concluded that foamed concrete has potential for application in structural lightweight insulating material. RHA is a good pozzolana and can be used to reduce cement and kenaf fibre is also a good reinforcing material in foamed concrete as it increases the tensile performance of foamed concrete.