ABSTRACT
Analysis of investigation on the characteristics of cornstalk blended ash cement was carried out based on the interest of coming out with a good pozzolanic material with all required cement properties. Hence, the supposed competitive demand relationship between cement products in construction works has been majorly wined by cement and this makes people to depend mostly on it despite the increase in price and some with inadequate properties.
In an attempt to reuse and convert agro wastes into useful materials for the construction industry, this research considered the application of corn stalk ash (CSA) as partial replacement for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in the production of concrete cubes.
The study investigated the oxide composition of CSA to ascertain its suitability as a pozzolanic material. Some properties of cement with CSA as a replacement for OPC were examined.
The results showed that CSA is not a good pozzolana as it does not satisfy the requirement for use as a pozzolana according to ASTM C618(2005). The compressive
strength of the specimens with replacement levels at 10% and 20% cured for periods of 7–28 days was lower at early curing time but improved significantly at later age.10% replacement level did not show increased strength compared to 20% CSA at 28 days curing period. Density decreased with increasing ash content, water absorption rate increased with increased CSA contents, while abrasion resistance increased with increasing amount of CSA substitutions. The test results revealed that
CSA concrete cubes can attain higher strength than the conventional ones at longer curing periods,due to its pozzolanic reactions.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
i. Background to the study
ii. Problem statement
iii. Aim of the study
iv. Objectives of the study
v. Justification
vi. Scope
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0.Introduction
2.1.Corn and Corn Cultivation
2.2.Corn and Corn Stalk
2.3.Chemical Composition of Corn Stalk
2.4.Corn Stalk Ash blended Cement and Construction Industry
2.5.Brief description of Cement
2.6.Chemical Properties of Cement
2.7.Lafarge Cement
2.8.The Need for Corn Stalk Ash Blended Cement
2.9.Empirical Study
CHAPTER THREE :METHODOLOGY
3.1.Experiment Site
3.2.Compressive Strength
3.3.Chemical Analysis
3.4.Physical Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR:RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CHAPTER FIVE:CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.0.Conclusion
5.1.Recommendation
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
Appendix A: Getting Corn Stalk from Field
Appendix B: Corn Stalk blended Ash