AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF CEMENT BY

SAW DUST ASH

M. Joseph David Selvan (Asst Prof), J. Jerin (Student), EN. Madesh (Student),
JB. Jenoob (Student), N. Tineesh (Student)
Department of Civil Engineering, St. Xavier’s Catholic College of Engineering, Nagercoil, Tamil
Nadu, India, Pin: 629 003, E-mail: jose4dav@gmail.com, Tel.: +91 7598314852

Abstract. The project examines about an investigation carried out on the strength
characteristics such as compressive, flexural, tensile strengths and durability property
such as water absorption of concrete produced using Saw dust ash as cement
replacement material in ratios of 0, 5, 10 and 15 weight. Mix ratio of 1:1.7:2.89 and
water cement ratio of 0.5 was used. Cubes of size 150mm x 150mm x 150mm and
cylinder of size 15 cm diameter and 30 cm height were cast, beam of 100 x 100 x
500mm are used. The results of the test showed that SDA up to 5% as partial cement
replaced are recommended.

Keywords. Sawdust Ash, Composite, Environment, Sieve

1. INTRODUCTION
In the modern world mortar and concrete are the important construction material widely used
both in domestic and industrial constructions. But cement plays an important role in both mortar and
concrete, they act as a binding material in binding fine aggregate and coarse aggregate and to fill the
voids present in the concrete. For better finishing cement is very essential. Now a day the rate of
cement goes on increasing. So it raises the rate of construction. So these things lead us to think for an
alternative. So we decided to replace cement by means of saw dust ash.
Saw dust ash is the waste material, which can be easily obtained from our surrounding;
Sawdust ash is prepared from the uncontrolled burning of the sawdust with average temperature being
600 degree celcius. The saw dust obtained is dried in sunlight for a period of 2 days, and is then burnt.
The ash obtained is normally grey in colour and the maximum loss on ignition, is less than 6%.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

This section discusses the materials used in the present experimental study and the methodology
adopted. Cement, fine aggregate, course aggregate and water were used in experimental study.
Portland cement produced by Ramco Company has been used throughout the investigation. Cement is
the most important ingredient used in concrete. Its function is to bind the fine aggregate and coarse
aggregate together and to fill the voids in between fine aggregate and coarse aggregate to form a
compact mass. Although cement constitutes only about 10% of the volume of the concrete mix, it is
the active component of the binding medium and the only scientifically controlled ingredient of
concrete. The size of aggregate lesser than 4.75mm is considered as fine aggregate. M-sand obtained
from Nagercoil was used as fine aggregate, passing through 2.36mm IS sieve and contained only so
much coarser material as permitted by the specifications were produced. M Sand was used throughout
the investigation as fine aggregate confirming to zone II as per IS 383:1970. The natural coarse
aggregate obtained from the locally available quarries with maximum size of 20 mm and satisfying the
grading requirements of BIS (IS:383-1970) is used in both normal and recycled aggregate concretes.
The specific gravity of coarse aggregate is 2.72. Water is an important ingredient of concrete as it
actively participates in the chemical reaction with cement. The quantity and quality of water is
required to be watched into carefully so that it can from the strength giving cement gel. Potable water
is used for making mortar. The pH value of water lies between 6.5 to 8.5 that indicate the water is free
from organic matters. Powered saw dust is dried in sunlight for 24 hours, then it is burnt at 600 degree
Celsius to get saw dust ash. Saw dust ash which passes through 90 micron sieve is used throughout
this project, which provides easy workability and binding property etc. the saw dust is normally
obtained from nearby wood mills. Table 1 gives the chemical composite of the SDA.

Table 1. Chemical Composition of SDA

Sl. No. Compound %
1 Alumina (as Al2O3) 9.85
2 Silica (as SiO2) 62.87
3 Calcium (as CaO) 10.35
4 Iron (as Fe2O3) 4.45
5 Magnesium Oxide(as MgO) 4.18
6 Sodium (as Na2O) 0.035
7 Potassium(K2O) 1.71
8 Loss on ignition 5.85

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results of the experiments are given in Table 2.1 – 2.4

Table 2.1. Compressive strength of concrete specimen for 14 days

S.NO Percentage of Specimen Load Strength Mean

SDA used strength
(KN) N/mm2
N/
mm2
1. Cube 1 470 20.89

0% Cube 2 450 20 20.74

Cube 3 480 21.33

2. Cube 1 520 23.11

5% Cube 2 490 21.78 22.07

Cube 3 480 21.33

3. Cube 1 490 21.78

10% Cube 2 460 20.44 21.18

Cube 3 480 21.33

4. Cube 1 370 16.44

Cube 2 400 17.78

 15% 17.03

Cube 3 380 16.89

Table 2.2. Compressive strength of concrete specimen for 28 days

S.NO Percentage of Specimen Load Strength Mean

SDA used strength
(KN) N/mm2
N/mm2
1. Cube 1 560 24.89

0% Cube 2 600 26.67 25.63

Cube 3 570 25.33

2. Cube 1 640 28.44

5% Cube 2 660 29.33 28.44

Cube 3 620 27.56

3. Cube 1 580 25.78

10% Cube 2 620 27.56 26.67

Cube 3 600 26.67

4. Cube 1 550 24.44

15% Cube 2 540 24 23.85

Cube 3 520 23.11

Table 2.3. Split tensile strength of concrete specimen for 28 days

S.NO Percentage of Specimen Load Strength Mean

SDA used strength
(KN) N/mm2
N/mm2
1. Cylinder 1 170 2.41

0% Cylinder 2 190 2.68 2.5

Cylinder 3 170 2.41

2. Cylinder 1 200 2.82

Cylinder 2 220 3.11 3.20

 5% Cylinder 3 260 3.67

3. Cylinder 1 200 2.82

10% Cylinder 2 180 2.55 2.68

Cylinder 3 190 2.69

4. Cylinder 1 160 2.26

15% Cylinder 2 140 1.98 2.21

Cylinder 3 170 2.41

Table 2.4. Flexural strength of concrete specimen for 28 days

S.NO Percentage of Specimen Load Strength Mean

SDA used strength
(KN) N/mm2
N/mm2
1. Prism 1 12 6

0% Prism 2 13 6.5 6.16

Prism 3 12 6

2. Prism 1 15 7.5

5% Prism 2 16 8 7.83
Prism 3 16 8

3. Prism 1 14 7

10% Prism 2 12 6 6.5

Prism 3 13 6.5

4. Prism 1 7 3.5

15% Prism 2 8 4 3.83

Prism 3 8 4
3.1 Comparison of Compressive Strength of Cubes for Varying Percentages of Saw Dust Ash
(SDA) for 14 Days
COM PRE SSIVE STRE NGT H N/M M 2

25
22.07 21.18
20.74
20
17.03
15 COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH
10 N/mm2
SDA RE-
5 PLACEMENT

0
0% 5% 10% 15%

REPLACEMENT OF SDA

Figure 1. Comparison of Compressive Strength of Cubes for Varying Percentages of Saw Dust Ash
(SDA) for 14 Days
3.2 Comparison of Compressive Strength of Cubes for Varying Percentages of Saw Dust Ash
(SDA) for 28 Days
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

30 28.44
25.63 26.67
25 23.85
N/MM2

20
COMPRESSIVE
15 STRENGTH
N/mm2
10 SDA RE-
PLACEMENT
5
0
0% 5% 10% 15%

REPLACEMENT OF SDA

Figure 2. Comparison of Compressive Strength of Cubes for Varying Percentages of Saw Dust Ash
(SDA) for 28 Days
3.3 Comparison of Split Tensile Strength of Cylinder for Varying Percentages of Saw Dust Ash
(SDA) for 28 Days
SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH

3.5 3.2
3 2.68
2.49
N/MM2

2.5 2.21
2 SPLIT TENSILE
STRENGTH
1.5 N/mm2
1 SDA RE-
PLACEMENT
0.5
0
0% 5% 10% 15%

REPLACEMENT OF SDA

Figure 3. Comparison of Split Tensile Strength of Cylinder for Varying Percentages of Saw Dust Ash
(SDA) for 28 Days

3.4 Comparison of Flexural Strength of Prism for Varying Percentages of Saw Dust Ash (SDA)
for 28 Days
FLEXURAL STRENGTH N/M M 2

9
7.83
8
7 6.16 6.5
6
5 FLEXURAL
3.83 STRENGTH
4 N/mm2
3 SDA RE-
2 PLACEMENT
1
0
0% 5% 10% 15%

REPLACEMENT OF SDA

Figure 4. Comparison of Flexural Strength of Prism for Varying Percentages of Saw Dust Ash (SDA)
for 28 Days

4.SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

In this project various tests were conducted to study the characteristic behavior and strength of
concrete by partially replacing the cement using saw dust ash in cement concrete.
By integrating the obtained results we arrived the following conclusions:

Partial replacement of cement using saw dust ash will gradually increase the strength of concrete
upto 5%. While taking into account the 28 days compressive strength, split tensile strength
 and flextural strength of plain cement concrete is high for 5% partial replacement of cement
using saw dust ash.
Similarly in all the test on hardened concrete the value obtained shows that effective result is
obtained only at 5%. But in order to attain expected strength than that of plain cement
concrete additional admixtures or materials can be added. The strength of concrete is safe up
to 5% replacement.
The workability is easy since the saw dust ash passes through 90 micron sieve.

REFERENCES
[1] Mohammad Iqbal Malik, et al., (2015) ‘‘ Partial Replaced of Cement by Saw Dust Ash in
Concrete A Sustainable Approach”, International Journal of Engineering Research and Development,
Volume 11, Issue 02, PP. 48 – 53.
[2] Obilade, I.O, (2014), ‘‘Use of Saw Dust Ash as Partial Replacement for Cement in Concrete”,
International Journal Engineering Science Invention, Volume 3, Issue 8.
[3] C. Marthong, (2012) ‘‘Sawdust Ash (SDA) as Partial Replacement of cement”, International
Journal of Engineering Research and Applications, Vol. 2, Issue 4.
[4] Swaptik Chowdhury, et al., (2014) ‘‘The incorporation of wood waste ash as a partial cement
replacement material for making structural grade concrete”, Ain Shames Engineering Journal, Volume
6, Issue 2.
[5] S. Chowdhury, et al., (2014) ‘‘Strength development in concrete with wood ash blended cement
and use of soft computing models to predict strength parameters”, Journal of Advanced Research,
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[6] IS 10262 (2009) : Guidelines for concrete mix design proportioning
[7] IS 456 : 2000 Indian Standard PLAIN AND REINFORCED CONCRETE-CODE OF PRACTICE
[8] M. S. Shetty. Concrete Technology. S.Chand & Company Ltd.; 2005, New Delhi.