Rice Husk Ash as Partial Replacement of Cement in Sustainable Construction

Jallow  Alieu; Jones  Owusu Twumasi; Russel  Owusu Afrifa; Evans  Amponsah; Jack  Banahene Osei; Mark  Adom-Asamoah; Charles  Kwame Kankam

doi:10.4314/just.v1i1.1748

Mr. Jallow Alieu Structural Engineering Doctoral Candidate at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5148-2475
Dr. Jones Owusu Twumasi Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7687-3383
Dr. Russel Owusu Afrifa Civil Engineering Department at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0003-6735
Dr. Evans Amponsah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2058-3069
Dr. Jack Banahene Osei Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3843-7158
Prof. Mark Adom-Asamoah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1395-4511
Prof. Charles Kwame Kankam Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9787-9354

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v1i1.1748

Keywords: Rice Husk Ash (RHA), Compressive Strength, Partial Replacement of cement, Cement-RHA Blended paste, Empirical modeling

Abstract

Alternative construction materials derived from agricultural waste, such as rice husk ash (RHA) and groundnut shell ash, have enhanced the sustainability and performance of concrete structures. The use of these ash materials, with their inherent pozzolanic and mineral admixture properties, has received much attention in the construction industry due to their potential benefits. In this experimental investigation, we assessed the attributes of cement paste incorporating RHA as a pozzolanic substitute. Various replacement ratios, ranging from 0% to 25% by weight of the binder, were examined at different water-to-binder ratios (0.40, 0.45, 0.50, and 0.55). Cementitious specimens were cast in 50mm x 50mm x 50mm cube molds, cured for seven days, and subjected to compressive strength testing. The findings highlight the impact of water-to-binder ratios and cement replacement levels on the compressive strength of cement paste. Higher water-to-binder ratios were associated with reduced compressive strength in the hardened paste. The optimal cement replacement levels were observed at 15% for the hardened blended paste specimens for all water-to-binder ratios. Two empirical regression models (polynomial and power) were employed to analyze the relationships between the paste’s replacement ratios, water-to-binder ratios, and compressive strength. The models revealed consistent findings, with the power model demonstrating an inverse relationship between compressive strength and water-to-binder ratios, while the polynomial model’s coefficients indicated a positive correlation between replacement ratios and compressive strength

Author Biographies

Mr. Jallow Alieu, Structural Engineering Doctoral Candidate at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Alieu Jallow is a Structural Engineering Doctoral Candidate at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) focusing on the study of the use of alternative construction materials derived from agricultural waste for low cost and sustainable construction. He has 25 years of work experience in TVET education Training and Assessment and a background in Architecture and Quantity Surveying.

Dr. Jones Owusu Twumasi, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Dr. Jones Owusu Twumasi is a Civil/Structural Engineer with a BSc from KNUST, Ghana, and a master’s from Southern Illinois University, USA. He holds a Ph.D. from UMASS Lowell, USA, specializing in Structural Engineering and Materials. With over a decade of industry experience, Jones has worked on US Government-funded research projects and presented at international conferences. His research focuses on the reliability and health monitoring of civil infrastructures, emphasizing corrosion, electromagnetic imaging, and radar NDE techniques. Jones is the principal investigator of the Structural Health Monitoring and Materials Research Group (SHMM) at KNUST. Jones is committed to pioneering structural health monitoring in Ghana and nurturing future generations of engineers.

Dr. Russel Owusu Afrifa, Civil Engineering Department at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Dr. Russell Owusu Afrifa, a Lecturer in the Civil Engineering Department at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), specializes in Structural Engineering, Reinforced Concrete Design, and Structural Materials. With a PhD in Civil Engineering and over 15 years of experience as a Structural Engineer, Dr. Afrifa brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his academic role. His expertise extends to the design and analysis of reinforced concrete structures, as well as the study of advanced structural materials. Dr. Afrifa's research aims to enhance the safety, durability, and efficiency of infrastructure through innovative engineering solutions.

Dr. Evans Amponsah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Evans Amponsah holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a Master's degree in Advanced Computational Structural Mechanics at the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), Germany, a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Zhejiang University, China. Presently, Dr. Amponsah is a lecturer at the Civil Engineering Department of KNUST. In this role, he imparts his expertise to students, teaching strength of materials and structural materials at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Dr. Amponsah's research interests are centered on the Fatigue and Fracture mechanics of engineering materials and structures. In his research endeavors, Dr. Amponsah combines experimental methodologies with advanced Finite Element modeling to assess the damage tolerance and predict the behavior of structures under extreme loading conditions.

Dr. Jack Banahene Osei, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Jack Banahene Osei is a lecturer at the Civil Engineering Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). His research revolves around performance-based earthquake engineering, reinforced concrete structures, and various applications of the finite element method in engineering. Dr. Osei specializes in seismic resilience, focusing on characterizing and modeling non-ductile reinforced concrete (RC) frame members. He is dedicated to advancing Performance-Based Design methodologies to enhance structural safety and durability. Additionally, Dr. Osei applies his expertise in statistics, probability, and random vibrations theory to engineer solutions for complex structural challenges. Through his work, he aims to improve structural design practices and mitigate the impact of earthquakes, contributing to the safety and sustainability of our built environment.

Prof. Mark Adom-Asamoah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Professor Mark Adom-Asamoah is currently the STEM Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Education. He previously served as Provost at KNUST's College of Engineering. He is a highly distinguished scholar who earned Fulbright, Commonwealth, and British Council Scholarships. He has a PhD from the University of Bristol and an MSc from the University of London. Prof. Adom-Asamoah’s research focuses on earthquake engineering, structural engineering, and structural materials, with over 80 publications and keynote speeches at numerous conferences. He is actively involved in professional engineering bodies and governing boards of various universities and has contributed significantly to engineering education and practice in Ghana.

Prof. Charles Kwame Kankam, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Professor in Structural Engineering and Materials with specialty in bond and deformation of reinforced concrete structures; concrete fiber reinforcement; strength and deformations of reinforced concrete members; concrete and reinforcing steel materials properties; innovative structural materials; structural timber properties; prestressed concrete.