Compressive Strength and Water Absorption of Mortar Incorporating Silica Fume

International Journal of Civil Engineering

© 2019 by SSRG - IJCE Journal

Volume 6 Issue 8

Year of Publication : 2019

Authors : Chai Teck Jung, Tan Cher Siang, Tang Hing Kwong ,KohHeng Boon

10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V6I8P106

How to Cite?

Chai Teck Jung, Tan Cher Siang, Tang Hing Kwong ,KohHeng Boon, "Compressive Strength and Water Absorption of Mortar Incorporating Silica Fume," SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 6,  no. 8, pp. 39-43, 2019. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V6I8P106

Abstract:

Cement is a non-renewable resource, and continuous exploration in achieving the development agenda cause the high demand worldwide. This may cause the natural resources to face depletion problems without replacement and brought to the future's critical environmental issue. Due to this concern, the alternative construction materials resources must be explored for replacement purposes. The high demand for cement in the construction field has turned the cement industry into the second-largest greenhouse gas producer, leading to global warming as cement mortar is an important material in masonry construction. A by-product of cementitious materials such as silica fume as a mineral admixture is introduced as the partial replacement of cement for the construction field. Therefore, this paper aims to present the water absorption and compressive strength of mortar incorporating silica fume. Silica fume was used as partial replacement of cement-based cement weight percentage in five mortar mixtures consist of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of silica fume. A total of 100 mortar cubes was prepared, which 20 samples of mortar mixtures for each series. All the specimens are subjected to air curing. Each series of mortar mixtures consists of two samples for water absorption test and three for compressive strength test at the ages of 14, 28, 56, and 90 days. The results obtained indicated that 20% partial replacement of cement with silica fume produced the highest compressive strength and lowest water absorption. The silica fume as a partial replacement for cement in producing mortar presented the opposite relationship between compressive strength and water absorption, and this development possesses the potential used as sustainable construction materials.

Keywords:

silica fume, water absorption, compressive strength, renewable, construction material

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