Characterization and performance evaluation of wheat husk ash for sustainable and durable concrete production

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials has encouraged the utilization of industrial and agricultural by-products as alternatives to conventional cementitious materials. These wastes have been recognized as cost-effective, readily available, and capable of significantly reducing environmental pollution when reused in construction applications. This study has examined the feasibility of using wheat husk ash (WHA), an agricultural residue rich in amorphous silica, as a partial replacement for cement in concrete. Concrete mixtures have been prepared by replacing cement with WHA at levels ranging from 10% to 25% by mass, with water-to-cement ratios between 0.30 and 0.40. An extensive experimental program has been conducted to evaluate the influence of WHA as a supplementary cementitious material on the fresh, physical, and hardened properties of concrete. Fresh properties have been evaluated through workability measurements, while physical properties have included density and water absorption. Hardened properties have been assessed in terms of compressive strength and overall mechanical performance. The results have indicated that incorporating WHA up to an optimum replacement level has improved concrete performance due to enhanced pozzolanic activity and micro structural densification. Beyond the optimum content, reductions in strength and workability have been observed. Overall, the findings have demonstrated that wheat husk ash can be effectively utilized as a sustainable cement replacement material, contributing to reduced cement consumption and improved environmental sustainability in concrete construction.