Performance Evaluation of Self Levelling Mortar Incorporating Bagasse Ash Subjected to Different Curing Regimes
摘要
The production of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is highly resource-intensive, requiring significant energy and leading to the emission of large quantities of carbon dioxide. As a result, widespread research has been conducted to identify alternative binder materials that are both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. One such promising alternative is Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SBA), a byproduct of the expanding sugarcane industry. The large-scale generation of bagasse ash presents both disposal issues and environmental concerns due to the depletion of natural resources. Incorporating SBA into construction practices offers a sustainable solution by enabling its use as a partial replacement for cement. This study investigates the efficiency of manufactured sand (M-Sand) as a fine aggregate in mortar mixes comprising silica fume (SF) and SBA. To enhance workability and reduce the water requirement, a sulphonated naphthalene-based superplasticizer (SP) was added. Calcium chloride was also involved to boost early-age strength. Additionally, mineral admixtures were used to partially replace cement, aiming to improve mortar performance while curtailing carbon emissions. Mortar mixes were prepared using a volumetric water-to-binder ratio of 0.5, where the binder consists of cement, silica fume, and SBA. SBA was used to replace OPC at varying proportions: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%. An experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of SBA on the properties of fresh mortar, particularly flowability, as well as on the compressive strength of hardened mortar. Dissimilar curing methods were performed to optimize the performance of each mortar composition.