Strength and heat evolution of concretes containing bagasse ash from thermal power plants in sugar industry

Two different sources of bagasse ash with low and high loss on ignition (LOI) were used in this experiment. Ordinary Portland cement was replaced by bagasse ash at the levels of 20%, 30%, and 40% by weight of binder. The effects of LOI, fineness, and cement replacement of bagasse ash on the compressive strength of concrete were investigated. Additionally, the heat evolution of concrete mixed with ground bagasse ash with low LOI was also measured. The results revealed that the compressive strength of concrete containing unground bagasse ash was much lower than that of control concrete (CON). Concrete mixed with low LOI ground bagasse ash had a slightly higher compressive strength than the mixture with high LOI ground bagasse ash. The replacement of cement by ground bagasse ash with low and high LOI at 30% and 20% by weight of binder, respectively, result in a compressive strength at 28 days as high as that of CON concrete. Finally, the temperature of bagasse ash concretes could be reduced by 13–37% relative to CON concrete, depending on the level of cement replacement by ground bagasse ash with low LOI.