Mechanical and Durability Properties of Concrete Containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Oil Palm Shell (OPS)

• Main Author: Yong, Eric Pik Kwong.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: unimas 2016
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/21014/3/Eric%28fulltext%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/21014/

The Malaysian palm oil industry is one of the largest contributors to the global palm oil production, and undoubtedly, also is one of the main contributors to Malaysia’s economic growth. However, palm oil wastes such as palm oil fuel ash (POFA) and oil palm shell (OPS) are also generated in abundance from the intensive production. Both waste materials are disposed in the open field near the palm oil mills. POFA is small and light in particle and can produces smog when carried away by the wind, which is dangerous to human health. Meanwhile, OPS which are left to rot in the open land can bring negative impact to the environment. In addition, more funds and lands need to be allocated by the government to accommodate all these wastes. Thus, the recycling and reuse of these waste materials as substitutes for the raw materials in concrete production can assist in resolving the issues raised by these wastes. This research aims to investigate on the mechanical and the durability properties of concrete utilises both POFA and OPS as substitutes for cement and coarse aggregates, respectively. The optimum mix of concrete with OPS as full coarse aggregates replacement was obtained through a series of trial mixes; 490 kg/m3 cement, 813 kg/m3 sand, 368 kg/m3 OPS and water to cement (w/c) ratio of 0.43. Thereafter, POFA was used to partially substitute cement (15% by weight) in OPS concrete to produce the POFA OPS concrete. For the experimental works, the workability and the densities (fresh and 28-day air dry density) for both concretes were assessed.