Coupled effect of poly vinyl alcohol and fly ash on mechanical characteristics of concrete
Hong-Hu Chu, Bilal Siddiq, Fahid Aslam, Muhammad Faisal Javed, Wei Wang, Panuwat Joyklad, Muneeb Khan, Sumaira Qayyum, Rifaqat Ali
Abstract
This paper presents a study of the combined effect of PVA (powder form) and fly ash on the mechanical properties of concrete. Three different parameters (PVA, fly ash, and different patterns of curing) were used. The Taguchi statistical method has been used to decrease the number of concrete specimens from 160 to 54. Different percentages of PVA (1% and 2%) with fly ash (10% and 20%) were used in 36 concrete samples. Afterward, all samples were cured in three different ways namely: Open air-dry curing, normal water curing, and temperature bath curing. Samples with 1% PVA and 10% Fly ash shows the highest compressive strength, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity. The improvement in strength is due to the interaction of PVA and FA with cement, filling pores, and strengthening the bond between the cement. Furthermore, the samples kept in water curing exhibited the greatest strength among all types of curing.