Enhancing ultra-high-performance concrete with agricultural and industrial by-products: a study on sesame oil waste ash and ceramic waste
Khaled Abu el‐hassan, Mohamed Amin, Yara Elsakhawy, Islam M. Riad
Abstract
Abstract This study focuses on how adding ceramic waste and sesame oil waste ash (SOWA) affects the characteristics of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Different UHPC mixes were made by substituting SOWA (0–40%) for some of the cement and crushed ceramic tile waste (0–100%) for sand. The concrete's fresh and hardened properties, microstructure and durability traits were assessed. Comparing the incorporated 10% SOWA and 100% crushed ceramic tile waste to the control mix, the results demonstrated an improvement in compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength. By decreasing the penetration of chloride and water permeability, this combination also improved durability. A denser matrix and an enhanced interfacial transition zone with the ideal mixture were found by microstructural investigation. The study shows how ceramic waste and SOWA can be used to create sustainable UHPC with improved performance. The findings demonstrated that UHPC incorporating a 10% replacement level exhibited superior performance relative to the control mix. Specifically, the blend containing 10% SOWA and 100% crushed ceramic tile waste showed notable enhancements in mechanical properties. At 28 days, this mix achieved a compressive strength of 170.1 MPa, splitting tensile strength of 18.71 MPa, flexural strength of 27.22 MPa, and an elastic modulus of 56.86 GPa representing increases of approximately 2.5%, 4.4%, 3.8%, and 1.3%, respectively, compared to the reference specimen. Moreover, this mixture exhibited the lowest permeability values, with water permeability measured at 1.52 × 10 −11 cm/s, chloride ion penetration resistance at 252 coulombs, and a sorptivity coefficient of 2.47 × 10 −4 mm/s 0.5 , indicating improvements of around 3.5%. Microstructural analysis further revealed that the incorporation of agricultural waste contributed to a refinement of pore structure, resulting in a denser matrix. This densification is likely responsible for the enhanced durability and mechanical characteristics observed in the modified UHPC. Graphical abstract