Investigation of the usability to nut shell ash as a mineral additive in concrete

Abstract

Experimental studies are being carried out to obtain puzzolan materials from agricultural wastes. The aim of this study was to minimize environmental damage of nut shells, which are discarded as waste material after the harvesting of crops. Puzzolanic activity test conducted in experimental study showed that nut shell ash provided compressive strength at 0.59 level. An analysis of compressive strength results revealed that compressive strength increases in 28-90 and 180 day values of the specimens containing nut ash additive. Reference compressive strength results showed that compressive strength increased by approximately 57% when water/cement ratio increases and that compressive strength decreased to 50% level with the increase of additive amount in both groups of concretes with nut shell additives. ASR test results showed that ash additive used in mortar types used in 5%-10%-15%-20%-25%-30% ratios had an effect and that it reduced ASR in mortar type containing 20% additive below 0.20 maximum value which is the standard value. Improvement of ash preparation conditions will enable the use of nut shell ash as a mineral additive.