Influence of Selected Curing Techniques on Compressive Strength of Concrete From Palm Kernel Shell Ash and Ordinary Portland Cement

 

Keywords:

Supplementary cementitious material

Compressive strength

Setting time

Ordinary portland cement

Concrete curing

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the findings of an experimental study on the effect 

of various curing procedures on the compressive strength of concrete pro-

duced by partially substituting portland cement with Palm Kernel Shell 

Ash (PKSA). Palm kernel shell ash was utilized in a 1:2:4 mix ratio as a 

partial substitute for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at percentage levels 

of 0%, 10%, and 15%. River sand with particles passing a 4.75 mm BS 

sieve was used, as well as crushed aggregate with a maximum size of 20 

mm, and palm kernel shell ash with particles passing a 212 μm sieve. The 

compressive strength of the test cubes (150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm) was 

determined after 7, 28, and 56 days of curing. The results demonstrated 

that test cubes containing Palm kernel shell ash developed strength over a 

longer curing period than ordinary Portland cement concrete samples and 

that the strength changes depending on the amount of PKSA in the cube 

samples. The findings showed that at 28 days, test cubes with 5%, 10%, 

and 15% PKSA content in all curing procedures utilized obtained a greater 

compressive strength. Curing by immersion produced the highest compres-

sive strength in all replacement level while the concrete cured by sprinkling 

and spraying gives a lower strength in all replacement level.

Conclusions

The study looked at the impacts of PKSA on the 

compressive strength development of ordinary Portland 

cement concrete. The study has brought to the body of 

knowledge the potentials of agricultural waste as supple-

mental cementitious materials that may be enhanced to 

increase its performance and utilization in a developing 

nation like Nigeria. Based on the findings, the following 

conclusions were reached:

The addition of PKSA increases the amount of water 

necessary to make a workable concrete mix, impacting 

concrete workability and resulting in a high water/cement 

ratio.

Because the pozzolanic effects of PKSA concrete have 

not yet been determined, it may require other characteris-

tics to be identified as a pozzolan.

Curing by immersion in water found to be the most 

effective curing technique for concrete because it creates 

minimal moisture loss and so increases cement hydration 

reaction, followed by covering with polythene, which 

generates better compressive strength than spraying and 

fogging techniques of curing. Curing by Application of 

Membrane Forming Curing Compound (Curing Com-

pound) is only suited for short-term concrete curing.

From Journal of Architectural Environment & Structural Engineering Research