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Satvinder Singh Sodhi
Vinod Kumar Modi
Deepak Mathur
Keywords:
High Strength Concrete, Fly-Ash, Mechanical Properties, Durability Properties, Replacement.
Abstract:
The rapid growth of infrastructure has significantly increased the demand for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), whose production consumes high energy and emits large amounts of CO₂, contributing to environmental issues. To promote sustainable construction, alternative materials like fly ash from thermal power plants are being explored. However, Class F fly ash has low calcium content, resulting in poor early-age reactivity. To address this, chemical activators such as sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) and calcium oxide (CaO) are used to enhance its pozzolanic activity.
This study investigates chemically activated Class F fly ash as a partial cement replacement in M-50 high-strength concrete. Mix design followed IS 10262 guidelines, and various replacement levels were tested. The concrete showed good workability due to the spherical nature of fly ash particles. Mechanical properties such as compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength were evaluated at different curing ages. A mix with 50% activated fly ash achieved a compressive strength of 65.5 MPa at 28 days, surpassing M-50 requirements.
Durability tests under acid, alkali, and marine conditions revealed improved resistance and lower permeability compared to conventional concrete. This is attributed to additional calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) gel formation, which enhances microstructure and bonding. Environmentally, the mix reduces CO₂ emissions by 35% and lowers material costs by 15%. Overall, chemically activated fly ash proves to be an effective, economical, and sustainable alternative for producing high-strength, durable concrete.
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International Journal of Recent Research and Review
ISSN: 2277-8322
Vol. XIX, Issue 1
March 2026
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PUBLISHED
March 2026
ISSUE
Vol. XIX, Issue 1
SECTION
Articles
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