Disaster Advances
10 (7) July (2017)
Behaviour of high strength SCBA ternary concrete when
exposed to elevated temperatures
Santhosh Kumar T.*, Rajasekhar K. and Ramarao G.V.
Department of Civil Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530045, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
*santhosh.civil2007@gmail.com
Abstract
This study focuses on the utilization of agricultural
waste (Sugarcane Bagasse Ash) as a mineral
admixture in concrete to investigate its behavior when
subjected to elevated temperatures. In this study,
Sugarcane Bagasse ash (SCBA) was used as partial
replacement to cement. The replacement of SCBA
varies from 5% to 30% by weight of cement in concrete.
An amount of 10% of silica fume is used in all the mixes
in addition to SCBA. The results showed that the
performance increases with the replacement of SCBA
up to 15 percent at all temperatures when compared to
concrete without SCBA.
Keywords: SCBA, BASF, Compressive Strength, Elevated
Temperatures, Silica fume, Admixture.
Introduction
Fire Accidents are increasing nowadays in the residential
and industrial concrete structures because of many ill effects.
Due to these accidents, human life is at stake and severe
damages to building structures also occur. In the present
study, to decrease the damages due to fire affected buildings
and to enhance the strength, new construction material is
used. Agricultural wastes such as SCBA and RHA, which
are pozzolanic in nature can be used to replace cement in
order to reduce its cost without affecting its quality.
Kowsik and Jayanthi1 conducted experimental works to find
out the bagasse ash and silica fume usage in making
concrete. In their study, the bagasse ash is replaced at 10%,
20% and 30% by weight of cement and addition of 10% of
silica fume at all the replacement levels. The results indicate
that at 10% addition of silica fume with unprocessed SCBA
as replacement showed improved strengths.
The present study is carried out on strength performance of
ternary blended concrete of SCBA and SF when exposed to
elevated temperatures to study its strength.
Review of Literature
Kawade et al2 have studied on the effect of use of bagasse
ash on strength of concrete by chemically and physically
characterized methods and partially replaced 0%, 10%, 15%,
20%, 25% and 30% by weight of cement in concrete. The
results show that the SCBA concrete has achieved
significantly higher compressive strength when compared to
that of the concrete without SCBA. It is found that the
cement can be advantageously replaced with SCBA up to a
maximum limit of 15%. Anand et al3 have revealed the
37
Vol.
distinct difference in mechanical properties of normal, high
strength and self-compacting concrete.
Shape of specimen (cube, cylinder, beam etc.), size of
specimen, magnitude of temperature, load applied on the
specimen, time duration maintained for heating are the
parameters that influence the test results. Strength of
concrete, type of cement, type of aggregate, water cement
ratio, density of concrete, percentage of reinforcement, cover
to the reinforcement etc. are some of the important factors
that affect the performance of concrete at elevated
temperature.
Bini and Varghese4 have conducted experimental works on
ternary blended concrete of SCBA and Metakaolin with
varying percentages (0%, 5%, 10%. 15%, 20%) and
Metakaolin (5%) as a constant replacement. Test results
show that the use of ternary blended concrete improves
workability, durability properties and mechanical strengths.
Patil5 worked on the effect of elevated temperatures and
different type of cooling regimes. In this work percentage of
steel fiber (0.5%) and polypropylene fiber (0.22%) by
concrete volume is taken. The specimens are heated at
different temperatures of 200°C, 400° C, 600°C for 6-hour
duration and were cooled with different regimes such as wet
cooling and dry cooling. The results show that the strength
loss has been found to be more in specimens cooled with
water.
Material and Methods
Material Properties: The cement concrete used in this
experimental work is made by mixing the Ordinary Portland
cement, River Sand, Coarse Aggregate, Water, SCBA, Silica
Fume and Super plasticizer. The properties of material are as
mentioned below:
Ordinary Portland cement: Ordinary Portland cement of
43 Grade from a single batch was used for the entire work
and care has been taken to store it in airtight containers to
prevent it from being affected by the atmospheric and
monsoon moisture and humidity. The cement was tested for
physical requirements in accordance with IS: 12269-1987.
Sugarcane Bagasse Ash: In the present investigation,
SCBA was taken from NCS Sugar Limited which is located
at Bobbili, Vizianagaram District. The ash was designed to
operate with boiler of travelling gate type with outlet steam
parameters of 87kg/cm2 and 515oC using bagasse as a main
fuel. After that the ash was grinded in ball mill in order to
make it finer than the cement fineness. The physical and
chemical properties of SCBA are tabulated in table 1 and
table 2 respectively.
 Disaster Advances Vol. 10 (7) July (2017)

Table 1
Physical properties of SCBA
S.N. Property Value
1 Density 576Kg/m3
2 Specific gravity 2.20
3 Mean particle size 0.1-0.2µm
4 Mean specific area 2500m2/kg
5 Particle shape spherical

Table 2
Chemical properties of SCBA
S. N. Component Symbol percent
1 Silica SiO2 64.00
2 Alumina Al2O3 32.00
3 Ferric Oxide Fe2O3 1.96
4 Manganese Oxide MnO 0.004
5 Calcium Oxide CaO 0.49
6 Magnesium Oxide MgO 0.59
7 Loss on Ignition LOI 0.71
Table 3
Properties of Silica Fume
S.N. Component Symbol Percentage
1 Silica Sio2 92.00
2 Alumina Al2O3 0.46
3 Iron Oxide Fe2O3 1.60
4 Lime CaO 0.36
5 Magnesium Oxide MgO 0.74
6 Sulphur Trioxide SO3 0.35
7 Loss on Ignition LOI 2.50
8 Sodium Oxide Na2O 0.70
9 Potassium Oxide K2O 0.90

Silica Fume: The Micro Silica was obtained from BOB
Trade Pvt. Ltd., Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and the
properties given by the company are shown in table 3. Silica
is a by-product of the manufacture of silicon metal and ferro-
silicon alloys.
Coarse Aggregate: Throughout the investigation, a crushed
coarse aggregate of 20 mm procured from the local crushing
plant was used. The aggregate was tested for its physical
requirements such as Gradation, Fineness modulus, Specific
Gravity and Bulk density etc. in accordance with IS: 2386-
1963 and IS: 383-1970.
Super plasticizer: Chemical admixture (Conplast
SP430A2) complying with IS: 9103, BS: 5075 and ASTM-
C-494(Type G) was used for obtaining a workable mix.
Experimental Investigation
In the present study cement was replaced with SCBA at
different percentages and with 10% of constant silica fume.
Mix proportion: M60 grade of concrete was used in the
entire experimental investigation. The detail of the mix
proportion used in this investigation is shown in table 4 and
the mix series of ternary concrete is shown in table 5.

Fine Aggregate: The river sand passing through 4.75 mm Casting of specimens: A total of 6 series of 150mm
sieve and retained on 600 μm sieve, conforming to Zone II x150mm x150 mm specimens were casted, one series with
as per IS 383-1970 was used as fine aggregate in the present conventional concrete and the other five
study. The sand is free from clay, silt and organic impurities. series with different percentage replacements. The materials
The aggregate was tested for its physical requirements such such as cement, SCBA and SF are mixed in mixer for half
as Gradation, Fineness modulus, Specific Gravity and Bulk an hour in order to get homogeneous mix. Preparation of
modulus in accordance with IS: 2386-1963. specimens was carried out and kept for 7, 28, 60 and 90 days
of curing.
38
 Disaster Advances
Table 4
Mix proportion of M60 concrete
Cement Fine Aggregate
1 0.96
The slump measured was 50-75mm of fresh concrete.
Table 5
Mix series of ternary blended concrete
Series SCBA replacement for OPC
0% SCBA Pure Cement Concrete (0%)
5% SCBA 5%
10% SCBA 10%
15% SCBA 15%
20% SCBA 20%
25% SCBA 25%
Temperature build-up in Industrial furnace: Bogie
Hearth Furnace supplied by M/s Industrial Furnace and
Controls, Bangalore was employed to heat various
specimens to different temperatures. After taking out
specimens from curing tank, they were kept for moisture
drying, later carried to the electric furnace for subjecting the
specimens to elevated temperatures of 200oC, 400oC, 600oC
and 800oC.
Results and Discussions
Tests are conducted for concrete made of different
replacements of cement with BASF and the residual
compressive strengths are studied for 7, 28, 60 days and 90
days at various elevated temperatures at different cooling
regimes. The results are tabulated and discussions have been
made.
Effect of Temperature on Residual Compressive
Strength of High Strength Concrete at Different
Replacements of BASF and subjected to Air Cooling:
Concrete cubes are casted for 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and
25% BASF replacement of cement. These cubes after curing
period are kept in furnace at various temperatures
200,400,600 and 800°C for a duration of 1 hour. After 1 hour
exposure, these cubes are subjected to air cooling. The
residual compressive strengths of these concrete cubes for 7,
28, 60 and 90 days of curing are tested and the results are
tabulated from tables 6 to 9 and graphs are shown from figs.1
to 4.
When exposed to temperatures in the range 100°C to 400°C,
high performance concrete BASF showed a gradual increase
in the residual compressive strength for all replacements
with BASF. This increase was considered which may be due
to rapid drying of the concrete which increased its strength.
Amongst all cases, 15% replacement cases show the best
strength retention of about 27% at 400°C. For 25%
replacement case, the performance in strength retention
39
Vol. 10 (7) July (2017)
Coarse Aggregate W/C Ratio
2.06 0.33
SF replacement for OPC
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
characteristic is poorest if all temperatures are considered.
At 600°C, it is seen that residual compressive strength is
higher than one at ambient temperature for 0%, 5%, 10%,
and 15% replacement of cement with BASF i.e.
characteristic strength is retained up to 600°C.
The loss of residual compressive strength is rapid from
600°C to 800°C for all cases of replacement. After the
evaporation of physically and chemically bound water, a
pressure is built-up which results into the extensive inner
cracking. This inner cracking is the main reason for
reduction in strength of all concrete mixtures.
Apart from it, the cement paste contracts and aggregate
expands due to loss of water at higher temperature which
leads to loss of the bond between paste and aggregates. It is
observed that the concrete cubes subjected to air cooling has
higher residual compressive strength than concrete cubes
subjected to water cooling which may be due to thermal
shock.
Effect of Temperature on Residual Compressive
Strength of High Performance Concrete at Different
Replacements of BASF and subjected to Water Cooling:
Concrete cubes are casted for 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and
25% BASF replacement of cement. These cubes after curing
period are kept in furnace at various temperatures
200,400,600 and 800°C for a duration of 1 hour. After 1 hour
exposure, these cubes are subjected to water cooling. The
residual compressive strength of these concrete cubes for 7,
28, 60 and 90 days of curing are tested and the results are
tabulated from tables 10 to 13 and graphs are shown from
figs. 5 to 8.
Rate of loss in residual strength of concrete is highly
dependent on the type of cooling regimes. The loss of
residual compressive strength is minimum under air cooling
as the heat gradient is gradual and maximum under sudden
cooling as the thermal shock is sudden.
Disaster Advances Vol. 10 (7) July (2017)

Table 6
Residual Strength for 7days of curing at elevated temperatures and subjected to air cooling

Compressive strength in N/mm2 for 7 days

Series
27°C 200°C 400°C 600°C 800°C
BASF0 48.0 48.50 50.00 47.00 40.00
BASF5 48.50 50.00 59.00 55.00 35.00
BASF10 49.00 59.00 64.00 60.00 47.00
BASF15 52.00 62.00 68.00 63.00 46.00
BASF20 42.00 47.00 48.00 45.00 34.00
BASF25 40.00 43.00 46.00 39.00 37.00

Table 7
Residual Strength for 28 days of curing at elevated temperatures and subjected to air cooling
Compressive strength in N/mm2 for 28 days
Series
27°C 200°C 400°C 600°C 800°C
BASF0 69.00 71.00 72.00 68.00 56.00
BASF5 69.50 72.00 79.00 73.00 54.00
BASF10 70.00 78.00 81.00 75.00 59.00
BASF15 72.00 80.00 85.00 73.00 49.00
BASF20 66.00 67.00 70.00 65.00 46.00
BASF25 63.00 65.00 66.00 62.00 41.00

Table 8
Residual Strength for 60 days of curing at elevated temperatures and subjected to air cooling

Compressive strength in N/mm2 for 60 days

Series
27°C 200°C 400°C 600°C 800°C
BASF0 71.00 69.00 69.00 65.00 53.00
BASF5 72.00 71.00 72.00 69.00 58.00
BASF10 73.50 74.00 76.00 68.00 61.00
BASF15 74.00 76.00 80.00 69.00 50.00
BASF20 68.00 69.00 71.00 65.00 44.00
BASF25 65.00 67.00 69.00 60.00 40.00

Table 9
Residual Strength for 90 days of curing at elevated temperatures and subjected to air cooling

Compressive strength in N/mm2 for 90 days

Series
27°C 200°C 400°C 600°C 800°C
BASF0 72.00 75.00 76.00 66.00 47.00
BASF5 74.00 76.00 79.00 72.00 49.00
BASF10 75.00 79.00 84.00 74.00 46.00
BASF15 77.00 86.00 89.00 75.00 44.00
BASF20 70.00 71.00 70.00 67.00 39.00
BASF25 66.00 60.00 59.00 59.00 28.00
40
Disaster Advances Vol. 10 (7) July (2017)

Fig. 1: Variation of Residual compressive strength with Temperature at 7 days

Fig. 2: Variation of residual compressive strength with temperature at 28 days

Fig. 3: Variation of Residual compressive strength with Temperature at 60 days

41
Disaster Advances Vol. 10 (7) July (2017)

Fig. 4: Variation of Residual compressive strength with Temperature at 90 days

Fig. 5: Variation of Residual compressive strength with Temperature at 7 days

Table 10
Residual Strength for 7days of curing at elevated temperatures and subjected to water cooling

Compressive strength in N/mm2 7 days

Series
27°C 200°C 400°C 600°C 800°C

BASF0 48.00 47.00 42.00 38.00 24.00

BASF5 48.50 48.00 43.00 33.00 25.00

BASF10 49.00 50.00 51.00 39.00 22.00

BASF15 52.00 57.00 61.00 43.00 27.00

BASF20 42.00 46.00 42.00 33.00 22.00

BASF25 40.00 42.00 41.00 32.00 20.00

42
Disaster Advances Vol. 10 (7) July (2017)

Table 11
Residual Strength for 28 days of curing at elevated temperatures and subjected to water cooling

Compressive strength in N/mm2 for 28 days

Series
27°C 200°C 400°C 600°C 800°C

BASF0 69.00 64.00 63.00 57.00 40.00

BASF5 69.50 63.50 63.00 51.00 45.00

BASF10 70.00 62.00 59.00 50.00 38.00

BASF15 72.00 71.00 72.00 53.00 35.00

BASF20 66.00 62.00 58.00 49.00 32.00

BASF25 63.00 61.00 56.00 47.00 30.00

Table 12
Residual Strength for 60 days of curing at elevated temperatures and subjected to water cooling

Compressive strength in N/mm2 for 60 days

Series
27°C 200°C 400°C 600°C 800°C

BASF0 71.00 63.00 60.00 58.00 43.00

BASF5 72.00 64.00 62.00 60.00 51.00

BASF10 73.50 67.00 64.00 63.00 53.00

BASF15 74.00 70.00 72.00 67.00 49.00

BASF20 68.00 62.00 58.00 56.00 40.00

BASF25 65.00 59.00 49.00 47.00 38.00

Fig. 6: Variation of Residual compressive strength with Temperature at 28 days

43
Disaster Advances Vol. 10 (7) July (2017)

Fig. 7: Variation of Residual compressive strength with Temperature at 60 days

Fig. 8: Variation of Residual compressive strength with Temperature at 90days

Table 13
Residual Strength for 90 days of curing at elevated temperatures and subjected to water cooling

Compressive strength in N/mm2 for 90 days

Series
27°C 200°C 400°C 600°C 800°C

BASF0 72.00 71.00 70.00 62.00 46.00

BASF5 74.00 75.00 74.00 66.00 47.00

BASF10 75.00 72.00 71.00 63.00 45.00

BASF15 77.00 75.00 77.00 66.00 41.00

BASF20 70.00 65.00 62.00 55.00 34.00

BASF25 66.00 62.00 61.00 52.00 25.00

44
 Disaster Advances
Unlike air cooling, the residual compressive strength started
decreasing from normal temperature to elevated
temperatures in water cooling except in the case of 15%
replacement of BASF in which the residual strength slightly
increased.
The residual compressive strength is slightly decreased or
nearly equal to its original characteristic compressive
strength at 200°C. The maximum increase in residual
compressive strength is observed at 400°C for 15%
replacement of cement with BASF with an average increase
of 14.96% for all curing periods. Gradual decrease of
residual compressive strength is observed between the
temperatures 400°C and 600°C for all replacements of
cement with BASF. Decrease of residual compressive
strength is very rapid from temperatures 600°C to 800°C for
replacements levels. On an average, 10% increase is seen at
400°C than characteristic strength for 15% replacement of
cement with BASF.
Conclusion
Based on the current experimental investigation the
following conclusions can be drawn:
1. The residual compressive strength of concrete increases
with increase in percentage cement replacements with BASF
0%, 5%, 10% and 15% and then on further increase of
BASF%, the strength is decreased.
2. The residual strength of high performance ternary
concrete (BASF) is gradually increased from temperatures
100°C to 400°C with an average increase of 11.16%.
3. From present investigation, it is observed that 15%
replacement of cement with BASF has shown better
performance in terms of strength.
4. The ternary blended high performance concrete has shown
improved resistance for temperature up to 400°C for all
replacement levels, highest being for 15% replacement with
27% increase and from 400°C to 600°C the residual strength
decreased gradually for all replacements from 11.16% to
1.5%.
5. The high strength ternary concrete (BASF) has retained
its original characteristic strength up to a temperature of
400°C for all curing periods of 7 days, 28 days, 60 days and
90 days for 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% replacement of cement
with BASF.
45
Vol. 10 (7) July (2017)
6. The residual strength of high strength ternary concrete
drastically decreased from the temperatures of 600°C to
800°C with a decrease of 21.14%.
7. The loss in residual compressive strength is more in case
of water cooling than cubes subjected to air cooling. The loss
of strength at 600°C is 21.14% and 31.33% for air cooling
and water cooling respectively.
It is concluded that the high strength ternary concrete
(BASF) at 15% replacement i.e. BASF15 relatively
improved the performance of concrete at elevated
temperatures.
References
1. Kowsik Radhika and Jayanthi S., A Feasibility Study for the Use
of Bagasse Ash and Silica Fume in Making Concrete, Australian
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 8, 213–218 (2014)
2. Kawade U.R., Rathi V.R. and Girge Vaishali D., Effect of use
of Bagasse Ash on Strength of Concrete, International Journal of
Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology,
2(7), 2997–3000 (2013)
3. Anand N. and Prince Arulraj G., The Effect of Elevated
Temperature on Concrete Materials and Structures — A Literature
Review, International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering,
1(4), 928-938 (2011)
4. Bini M.J. and Varghese Shibi, Ternary Blended Concrete with
Bagasse Ash and Metakaolin, International Journal of
Engineering Research and Technology (IJERT), 3(10), 1120–1122
(2014)
5. Patil Rahul Subhash, Effect of Elevated Temperature and Type
of Cooling on M20 Grade Concrete Using Fibers, International
Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 3(2), 287–289 (2014)
6. Srinivasan R. and Sathiya K., Experimental Study on Bagasse
Ash in Concrete, International Journal for Service Learning in
Engineering, 5(2), 60-66 (2010)
7. Yaragal Subhash C., Patel Darshan and Babu Narayan K.S.,
Exposure to elevated temperatures and cooled under different
regimes – a study on blended concrete, International Journal of
Research in Engineering and Technology, 2(1), 55-58 (2013)
8. Bahurudeen A. and Santhanam M., Performance Evaluation of
Sugarcane Bagasse Ash-Based Cement for Durable Concrete, 4th
International Conference on the Durability of Concrete Structures,
275-281 (2015).
(Received 20th April 2017, accepted 13th June 2017)