Comparative Analysis on the Durability of

Concrete made with Aggregates from Davao,

Panabo, and Lupon Containing Water
Hyacinth Ash Against Sea Water Exposure
Cyndrille John Bragat, Alvin Winston Café, Jemuel Vido
#
College of Engineering Education, University of Mindanao
Matina, Davao City
1
c.bragat.484689@umindanao.edu.ph
1
a.cafe.475580@umindanao.edu.ph
1
j.vido.475690@umindanao.edu.ph

I. INTRODUCTION

Over the last decades the various raw materials,
or fibres were developed in the biased substitute for
cement and used in the construction industries. The locally
available materials from industrial, agricultural or
domestic waste such as fly ash, silica fume, blast furnace
slag, coconut shell, egg shell, etc [1]. In the world, 40 %
of investment are spent for maintenance of building. A
good deal of research undergoes for an innovative material
for the replacement of cement which should not affect the
environment. Water hyacinth ash is new alternative
material for cement. It can be easily visible on lakes and
ponds [2].
Water hyacinths are the worst aquatic weed ever
known, and the aqua life killers. These water plants are
notorious for their fast growth. Hyacinths are considered
as one of the most productive aquatic plant. A plant which
can spread over the whole river in a small amount of time
[3]. It causes problems such as fish reduction, navigation
hindrance, breeding for mosquitoes and affects quality of
water [4].
Many important characteristics of concrete are
influenced by the ratio (by weight) of water to
cementitious materials used in the mixture. By reducing
the amount of water, the cement paste will have higher
density which results in higher paste quality. An increase
in paste quality will produce a concrete with higher
compressive and flexural strength, lower permeability,
increased resistance to weathering, improved bond to
reinforcement, reduced volume change from drying and
wetting, and reduced shrinkage cracking tendencies [5].
Previous studies used water hyacinth extract [6]
as a superplasticizer to reduce the water requirement in
fresh concrete, while other studies used water hyacinth ash
[7]-[8] as a pozzolanic material to increase the strength of
the concrete. Bio-concrete accelerating admixture is
developed as an alternative to calcium chloride
component in cement. On the other hand, research on bio-
based retarding admixture of concrete for tropical
environments is underway [9]. With these characteristics,
water hyacinth is considered as a good addition to concrete
when it is used in cases wherein the concrete is exposed
or subjected to water. It absorbs a high quantity of water,
so by burning water hyacinth, it can used in concrete mix
to reduce the permeability of concrete.
The concrete structures built in marine
conditions are always exposed to seawater either directly
or indirectly. The coastal and offshore structures are
always in contact with seawater and there are number of
physical and chemical deterioration processes takes place.
So, concrete structures effected by seawater requires
special attention [10]. Concrete exposed to seawater is
wetted by a solution of salts - principally sodium chloride
and magnesium sulfate. Damage to concrete, if it occurs,
usually results from failure to use good practices in
concrete construction, and often is the result of freezing
and thawing or wetting and drying, as much as or more
than the results of the effects of seawater as such.
Magnesium sulfate may attack most, if not all, of the
constituents of hardened Portland cement paste, especially
the aluminate constituent; chlorides may promote
corrosion of steel; alkalis may participate in alkali-
aggregate reaction. Thus, concrete exposed to seawater
should be made with cement of controlled aluminate
content and with nonreactive aggregate, embedded steel
should be well covered by concrete of low permeability,
and good construction practices should be followed [11].
Aggregates are essential materials in civil
engineering construction processes; their inclusion in
concrete and asphalt mixes has always made their
production to be more economical [12]. There is
significant influence of different aggregate types on
concrete compressive strength, with stronger aggregate
types increasing the overall strength of the concrete [13].
Aggregate characteristics comprise of shape,
texture, and grading. They together influence workability,
finish ability, pump ability, segregation, physical,
mechanical properties of fresh and hardened concrete
[14]. As the aggregate properties depend on the properties
of the parent rock (e.g., chemical and mineralogical
composition, petrographic classification, specific gravity,
hardness, strength, physical and chemical stability and C. Methodology
pore structure). All these characteristics have an important
influence on the properties of both fresh and hardened
concrete [15],[16]. It is therefore not surprising that the
quality of these materials is of considerable importance
and hence it is useful to establish the quality of aggregate
from time to time to ensure quality control and be able to
specify materials correctly and ensure materials will
perform accordingly [17]. The variation on the aggregate
properties (either mechanical or physical) also affects the
property of concrete strength, workability and durability
[18].
The objective of this study is to conduct a
comparative research on the effect of Water Hyacinth Ash
on the durability of concrete made of aggregates from
different sources against sea water exposure. The
aggregates will be taken from the Davao River quarry site
located in Davao City, Tuganay River quarry site located
in Panabo City, Sumlog River quarry site located in Lupon
Davao Oriental.

The significance of this study is to assess the

durability of concrete made with aggregates from different
areas with water hyacinth ash exposed on sea water. And
to effectively use water hyacinths and reduce its effect as
pollutants. a. Identification of Sources

The researchers will use Water

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hyacinth as samples. The researchers also
A. Conceptual Framework selected the quarry sites in Davao, Panabo,
Lupon. The identified quarry sites are
Davao River, Tuganay River, Sumlog
River.
Input
b. Collection of Samples
Gathering of Aggregates and
Water Hyacinth from Process Output
Sources
The researchers will collect Water
Concrete Mix Design Sample with
highest durability Hyacinth Samples in any available area
against Seawater
Water Hyacinth drying Exposure
while the aggregates will be collected from
and Burning the quarry site in Davao, Panabo, and
Lupon.

c. Drying and Burning of Water Hyacinth Samples

The researches will sun-dry the water

hyacinth samples for two weeks. Then the
samples will be burnt on open air and the ashes
will be collected.
B. Materials and Resources
d. Sieving of Water Hyacinth Ash
a. Water Hyacinth Ash
The researchers will use No. 200
b. The type of Portland cement will be used is
Sieve in segregating the ashes from the burnt
Type I which is for general construction
chunks.
according to the ASTM C150/C150M-19a:
Standard Specification for Portland cement e. Concrete Mix Design
[13].
For concrete mix design, the researchers
c. Aggregates from the Davao, Panabo and will conduct the calculations according to the
Lupon were used. ASTM C-150 standards with addition of water
hyacinth ashes at 5%, 10%, 15% as replacement
d. Cylindrical molds with 3 - 6” x 12” for cement.
diameter.
f. Preparation of Concrete Cylinder Samples
Compression test of concrete is used to
After concrete mix design, the researchers determine the hardened strength of concrete and to
will prepare 27 concrete cylinder samples in total, 9 evaluate the mix design for actual use. The standard
for each chosen quarry sites. Following the for this test is AASHTO T22-92 specification.
AASHTO T 126-93 & AASHTO T 119-93
standards. First, the calculated proportions of
cement, Water Hyacinth at certain ratios, water, and
aggregates were weighed and mixed to create
concrete mixture. Then, the concrete mixture will be
placed in a 3 – 6” x 12” cylindrical mold. After 24
hours, the concrete cylindrical specimen will be
removed from the mold. The specimens will then be
labeled according to the quarry site it originates. DA
for Davao City samples, PA for Panabo City
samples and LA for Lupon samples.

g. Curing of Concrete Cylinder

To achieve consistent results, three

samples per area will be cured 28 days.

h. Laboratory Water Absorption, Sulphate Attack,

Chloride Attack, Compressive Test of Concrete Cylinder

Water Absorption test is intended to determine

the susceptibility of an unsaturated concrete to the
penetration of water. This test method is used to measure
the water absorption rate of both the concrete surface and
interior concrete. This is bases on ASTM-C1585
standards.

The sulphate attack test is based on ASTM-C

1012. This test method is the test that provides a means of
assessing the sulfate resistance of mortars made using
portland cement, blends of portland cement with
pozzolans or slags, and blended hydraulic cements.

Concrete samples will be submerged under sea

water for 7 days before conducting chloride attack test.
Chloride attack test will be in performed in accordance to
ASTM-C1202-19.
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[Online]. Available: