Concrete Behaviour with Volcanic Tuff Inclusion
Walid Fouad Edris, Safwat Mahmoud Abdelkader, Ahmed Hamed El-Sayed Salama, Abd Al-Kader A. Al Sayed
Abstract
This study evaluates the effect of substituting cement by volcanic tuff on the workability, mechanical properties, and durability of concrete. Five mixtures were prepared with volcanic tuff ratios to cement of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. First, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) test for volcanic tuff was performed. Then, slump test was conducted for fresh concrete specimens. Moreover, tests for flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, elevated heat resistance, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were performed at 28-days age of concrete specimens. Compressive strength, and absorption tests were conducted at 28, and 56-days ages of specimens. The study showed that slump, compressive strength, flexural strength, and splitting tensile strength were decreased with the increasing of volcanic tuff to cement replacement ratio at 28-days age. Additionally, the highest compressive strength and lowest water absorption for concrete were obtained at 56-days age of specimens and 10% volcanic tuff to cement replacement ratio.