ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

Athens Institute for Education and Research

ATINER

ATINER's Conference Paper Series

CIV2014-0969
A Study of Mechanical Strength of
Concrete Mixed Cotton Dust Ash as
Replacement of Ordinary Portland
Cement

Borvorn Israngkura Na Ayudhya

Assistant Professor
Rajamangala University of Technology
Thailand
Yothin Unkoon
PhD
Research and Development Department of Superblock Ltd
Thailand
Preecha Chantawong
Assistant Professor
King Mongkut's University of North Bangkok
Thailand

ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

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19/6/2014

ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

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Athens Institute for Education and Research

ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

This paper should be cited as follows:

Israngkura Na Ayudhya, B., Unkoon, Y. and Chantawong P., (2014) "A

Study of Mechanical Strength of Concrete Mixed Cotton Dust Ash as
Replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement" Athens: ATINER'S
Conference Paper Series, No: CIV2014-0969.

ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

A Study of Mechanical Strength of Concrete Mixed Cotton

Dust Ash as Replacement of Ordinary Portland Cement
Borvorn Israngkura Na Ayudhya
Assistant Professor
Rajamangala University of Technology
Thailand
Yothin Unkoon
PhD
Research and Development Department of Superblock Ltd
Thailand
Preecha Chantawong
Assistant Professor
King Mongkut's University of North Bangkok
Thailand
Abstract
This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the
compressive flexural and splitting tensile strength of concrete mixed cotton
dust (CD) ash. The dust particles less than 800 micron in diameter is used. The
approach taken was to use the cotton dust ash as replacement of Ordinary
Portland Cement (OPC) material in concrete. The mixtures were prepared with
cementitious materials containing cotton dust ash at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and
20% by weight. The results showed that compressive of concrete mixed CD
ash was in the range of 11.45-29.04 N/mm2. The flexural and splitting tensile
strength was in the range of 3.59-8.38 N/mm2 and 1.05-3.27 N/mm2
respectively. The compressive, flexural and splitting strength of concrete
mixed cotton dust ash decreased with the content of CD ash increased.
However, the ultimate compressive, flexural and splitting tensile strength can
be obtained where the level of replacement of CD ash was at 5% of
replacement. Based on results, it can be concluded that cotton dust ash can
adequately be additive material for structural material in buildings.
Key words: Dust cotton ash; Concrete; Cementitious material

ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

Introduction
Textile industry is the second largest industry in the world next to
agriculture. The textile industry contributes substantially to the foreign
exchange earned by exporting countries. The demand for natural cotton fibres
and poly/cotton blend fibres has increased significantly in the past decade
(World Bank, 2004). However, the emphasis on awareness about the
environmental concern such as air, water and noise pollution during the
processing from fibre to fabric is essential in the present circumstances.
Cotton dust is one of industrial waste which is a dust waste generated into the
atmosphere as a result of process of the weaving of cotton fibers in textile
mills. Cotton dust can cause an occupational lung disease which caused by
exposure to cotton dust in inadequately ventilated yarn and fabric manufacture
industries. For decades, engineers and researchers have been interested in
utilizing the waste products for value added to the waste product and reduce
the depletion in natural resources. Currently, cotton dust is used as fuel for
boilers and fertilizer (Li et al., 2003; Balasubramanian et al., 1995). In the
utilization of cotton dust as fuel of boiler in fabric manufacture process, cotton
dust is burned to heat water in boiler to produce steam that will be used to drive
power plants. From the combustion process will be generated cotton dust ash
that has gray-black color. In manures and fertilizers aspect, cotton dust
containing 50-60% moisture can be converted to good quality compost with a
few turning within 20 days (Kolay, 2007). In civil engineering works, cotton
dust is studied for improving the mechanical properties of concrete structures
(Burgueno et al., 2004; Burgueno et al., 2005; Taniguchi, 2003). Owing to the
different applications of concretes, studying the mechanical aspects of concrete
mixed cotton dust ash has been an interesting and challenging topic for many
researchers. The importance of research studies in this area is emphasized by
utilizing CD ash as replacement material in concrete structure. However,
outcome of research lies mainly in their competitive prices and performance.
The effect of natural admixtures usage on concrete mixed can be focused on
the reduction of materials used. Consequent, producing similar or even mix
with less mixture quantities results in a sustainable concrete.

Experimental Details
Detail of Design Mix
The materials used in this study were, Ordinary Portland cement (OPC)
type I, which complied with BS 12:1991 and ASTM C150-12. Ordinary
Portland cement corresponding to ASTM Type I cement with a specific gravity
of 3.16 was used for all concrete mixtures. The chemical composition of these
binders is presented in Table 1. Coarse aggregates were a crushed granite with
a maximum size of 16 mm and a specific gravity of 2.68. Natural siliceous
river sand having a fineness modulus of 1.85 and a specific gravity of 2.54 was
used as a fine aggregate. Both coarse and fine aggregates were batched in a

ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

saturated surface dry (SSD) conditions. Cotton dust (CD) ash used in this
research was generated from combustion of cotton dust which results of the
mechanical processing of raw cotton in the spinning process. Figure 1 shows
the CD ash used in this study. The results of particle distribution analysis of
CD and CD ash are given in Figure 2.
Table 1. Chemical composition and properties of cement and cotton dust ash
Composition (%)
Cement
Cotton dust
Cotton dust ash
CaO
65.5
26.27
23.8
SiO2
21.0
29.4
60.1
Al2O3
5.2
13.89
10.5
Fe2O3
3.2
0.46
1.02
MgO
3.1
0.58
3.8
SO3
2.9
Na2O
0.14
K2O
Loss on ignition
29.40
Figure 1. Cotton Dust and Cotton Dust Ash

Figure 2. Particle Size Distribution of CD Ash

ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

Preparation and Testing Methods

The concrete specimens were casted in cylinders of 100 mm diameter and
200 mm height and prisms of 150150800 mm steel moulds for compressive
strength, splitting tensile strength and three point load flexural strength tests
respectively. All specimens were compacted using a vibration table. The
specimens were demoulded approximately 24 hr after casting. The method of
curing was immersion in water at 233 C until the age of testing. In order to
minimize the affect of surface moisture to the strength of specimens, all
specimens were placed out of water and put in the air dry for 24 hr prior to
testing. Three test results were compared for obtaining the means value for any
test.
For dispersion effect of the mixing materials, the one-third of cotton dust
ash was firstly added into running mixer after concrete was well mixed. The
mixing time was 3 min. Then, Two-third of cotton dust ash was secondly
added gradually to running mixer. The mixing time continues for 3 min. The
specimens were casted in cylindrical and prism steel moulds. Two layers of
placing mixed concrete into steel moulds were used, each layer being
consolidated using a vibrating Table. Compressive strength, flexural and
splitting tensile strength tests were carried out in accordance with ASTM C 39,
ASTM C78 and ASTM C 496 respectively. Table 2 gives the details of the
mixture proportions for a cubic meter of concrete.

Test Results and Discussion

Compressive Strength
The cylindrical specimens were tested for compressive strength test.
The compressive strength of different CD ash replacement was presented in
Table 1 for 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. Generally, by application of CD ash as
substitute material for cement. The result showed that the compressive strength
decreased as CD ash substitution increased. Similar to the normal concrete
(0% of CD ash replacement), the compressive strength of CD ash concrete
increased during time; however, the rate of increasing is different (Figure 5).
The compressive strength of concrete mixed CD ash was in the range of 11.4529.04 N/mm2. It was further found that 5% of CD ash replacement gave the
highest compressive strength when it compared with compressive strength of
specimens mixed with 10%, 15% and 20% of CD ash replacement. In this
regard, concrete contained 5% of CD ash replacement, developed averagely
55.34% of the 28 days strength in 7 days in comparison with 61.33% for
normal concrete. This might due to thermal resistivity of CD ash which
retained the heat of hydration and increased the cement reactions at early age.
On the other hand, by using 20% CD ash as cement replacement, the
compressive strength decreased. This might due to the amount of cement,
hydration process and CD ash activity. From the results obtained in Table 1,
Mixture of CD ash can be used in the production of normal weight concrete.

ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

Substitution of the mixture should not be more than 5% of replacement level

for the best result in the concrete production for concrete structures.
Table 2. Result of Strengths of Concrete mixed CD Ash
Compressive strength of Concrete mixed CD ash (N/mm2)
Duration
CD ash (%)
3 days
7 days
14 days
28 days
0
18.15
19.71
26.53
29.59
5
16.07
21.10
25.28
29.04
01
15.42
20.85
25.12
28.68
05
15.66
18.74
23.30
28.03
01
11.45
20.52
22.33
25.89
Flexural strength of Concrete mixed CD ash (N/mm2)
CD ash (%)
3 days
7 days
14 days
28 days
0
4.37
4.66
5.76
8.77
5
4.12
4.14
5.28
8.38
01
3.93
4.46
5.03
8.18
05
3.75
3.94
4.86
7.89
01
3.59
3.63
4.52
7.12
Splitting tensile strength of Concrete mixed CD ash (N/mm2)
CD ash (%)
3 days
7 days
14 days
28 days
0
1.92
2.22
2.79
3.49
5
1.83
2.09
2.63
3.27
01
1.64
1.92
2.26
3.05
05
1.49
1.73
2.17
3.03
01
1.05
1.29
1.56
2.65
Flexural Strength
The flexural strength of concrete mixed with CD ash was determined
according to the ASTM C78 and the results were presented in Table 1 and
Figure 4. The result showed that flexural strength has direct relationship with
compressive strength results. Similar to the results of compressive strength, the
increasing flexural strength of concrete mixed CD ash was found to relate to
the decrease in level of replacement. As compressive strength increased, the
flexural strength also increased. The flexural strength results agreed with those
of compressive strength results. It was further found that the strength of
specimens decreased when the content of CD ash increased above 5% of
replacement. The maximum flexural strength of concrete mixed CD ash can be
obtained where concrete mixed at 5% of CD ash replacement. The ultimate
flexural strength was 8.38 N/mm2 for 28 days. As can be observed, the
application of substitution CD ash above 5% exhibited minor changes in the
flexural strength, while using higher amount of CD ash replacement resulted in
to some extent decrease. Similar results were found by Sarmomtazi, et al.,
(Sarmomtazi, et al., 2012). It should be noted that the failure mode observed to
be more gradual by adding CD ash. In this study, the minimum and maximum

ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

flexural strength at the age of 7 days were 3.63 N/mm2 and 4.16 N/mm2 and
the values at the age of 28 days were 7.12 N/mm2 and 8.38 N/mm2. Regard to
the rate of increasing in flexural strength, it appeared that the rate of increasing
in strength increased as the content of cement increased. Addition, the highest
rate of increasing in strength per day was at 3 days. The rate of increasing in
strength was 1.37 N/mm2/day when compared with the rate of increasing in
strength of normal concrete with 1.46 N/mm2/day. However, the above results
showed that flexural strength increased with decrease in CD ash volume
fraction; this was due to the additional load taken by the CD ash present in the
matrix. Addition, after increasing the volume percentage of CD ash beyond the
optimum value (5%) improper mixing of CD ash with the matrix took place
due to balling effect of CD ash, this increased the amount of vibrations
required to remove air voids from the mix which in turn caused the problem of
bleeding and decreased flexural strength of the mix. The failure pattern of plain
and CD ash concrete in flexural strength test showed that CD ash concrete
were more ductile as compared to plain concrete. This was because when the
matrix cracked, the load was transferred from the composite to the CD ash at
the crack surfaces, which prevents the brittle failure of the composite.
Figure 3. Rate of Increasing in Compressive Strength

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ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

Figure 4. Rate of Increasing in Flexural Strength

Figure 5. Rate of Increasing in Splitting Tensile Strength

Splitting Tensile Strength

For studying the splitting tensile behaviour, cylinders of concrete mixed
CD ash were tested. The failure load was observed and the strength was
calculated which was shown in Table 1. The splitting tensile strength of
concrete mixed CD ash was determined based on ASTM C496. In Figure 5
showed the variations of splitting tensile strength with CD ash replacement
percentage at different ages. The maximum value of 28-day splitting tensile

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ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

strength was obtained as 3.49 N/mm2 at 0% replacement level and the

minimum was 2.65 N/mm2 obtained at 20% replacement level. It was further
noticed that CD ash did not significantly improve the splitting tensile strength
rate. At earlier stages, benefits were not observed at any replacement level, and
high percentages of CD ash tended to reduce strength. Benefits begin to
disappear after 5% replacement level. The results indicated that the strength
benefits were increased as the age of CD ash concrete increased. This might
due to the amount of cement contained.
As seen, the splitting tensile strength decreased by application of CD ash,
so that by replacing 5, 10, 15 and 20% of cement weight. The splitting tensile
strength at 28 days decreased 6.7% 14.4%, 15.2% and 31.7% when it was
compared with control specimens respectively. Effect of supplementary
cementing material on splitting tensile strength was similar to the effects
observed for compressive strength and flexural strength. In Figure 5 showed
the rate of strength increase in percentage, it found that the CD ash decreased
the splitting tensile strength. However, incorporating 5% of CD ash gave the
highest tensile strength when it was compared with concrete mixed at 10, 15
and 20% of CD ash replacement. There was also a significant increase in
strength over the control mix. This was believed to be due to the large
pozzolanic reaction and improved interfacial bond between paste and
aggregates. The above results showed that split tensile strength increased with
decrease in CD ash volume fraction, because of the holding capacity of the CD
ash which helped in preventing the splitting of concrete. However, after
increasing the volume percentage of CD ash beyond the optimum value (5%),
similar problem was found on workability of mixing matrix. It required further
vibrations to remove air voids from the mix which in turn caused the problem
of bleeding and decreased split tensile strength of the mix.
Ratio of Strengths
From Figure 6, it found that the ratio of splitting tensile to compressive
strength was in the range 0.092 to 0.118. The ratio of splitting tensile to
compressive strength depended on level of CD ash replacement. The ratio of
splitting tensile to compressive strength was higher at early ages (3-days and 7days). The ratio of splitting tensile to compressive strength at 5% of CD ash
replacement was at 0.113 or 11.3%. While the highest ratio of splitting and
compressive strength was 0.118 or 11.8% at 28 days (at 0 % of CD
replacement). Similar to the ratio of splitting tensile to compressive strength,
the ratio of splitting tensile to flexural strength decrease by replacing cement
with CD ash. In addition, according to Figure 7 the ratio of splitting tensile to
flexural strength was decreased by adding CD ash. However, in comparison
with 0% CD ash replacement, the addition of 5% of CD ash led a reduction in
ratio of splitting tensile to flexural strength at 1.78%. In this regard, the ratio of
splitting tensile to flexural strength was 39.1% which classified as low strength
concrete.

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ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

Figure 6. Ratio of Tensile to Compressive Strength

Figure 7. Ratio of Tensile to Flexural Strength

Conclusions
The experimental program reported in this paper dealt with assessing the
compressive, flexural and tensile of concrete mixed CD ash. Based on the test
results of this investigation, the following conclusions can be drawn:

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ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

1. Addition of CD ash to concrete can be conveniently achieved with the

present day technology. This study has shown that it is possible to produce low
strength concrete in Thailand using the locally available materials. CD ash
replacement did not provide significant improvement levels as normal concrete
(0% replacement).
2. Generally, application of CD ash decreased the strength properties;
however, the results showed the potential for producing different strengthgrades of concrete; in particular structural grade concrete can be produced by
replacing cement with 5, 10%, 15% and 20% of CD ash.
3. Test results indicated that normal strength concrete, made with CD ash,
tends to gain strength moderately similar to conventional concrete. The
presence of CD ash increased the early strength of concrete. However, this
increase in strength was not achieved with higher level of CD ash replacement.
4. The application of 10%, 15% and 20% CD ash led to the lower strength
grade. Addition, increase the CD ash replacement resulted in a brittle failure
mode in flexure, In this regard, using CD ash compensated some portion of
cement, might not show significant improvement concrete properties including
mechanical characteristics, Addition, CD ash with higher level of replacement
caused unfavorable behavior, especially at the early ages.

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ATINER CONFERENCE PAPER SERIES No: CIV2014-0969

ASTM C39 / C39M - 12a Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of
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