INVESTIGATION OF PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF CEMENT WITH NEEM LEAF ASH IN CONCRETE

Abstract

The economic crisis around the world has led to the escalating rise in prices of building materials of which cement is inclusive. This prompted research into using Neem Leave Ash (NLA) in concrete in place of some of the cement to mitigate the impact on cement prices. Its pozzolanic properties were obtained using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The Ordinary Portland cement was partially replaced by NLA at 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20% by weight. The workability, consistency and compressive strength of NLA in concrete was evaluated in the laboratory. Concrete mix design of grade C15 was adopted. Cubes of each mix design were crushed on 7 days, 14 days and 28 days to get the compressive strength. The outcome demonstrates that as NLA increases, the workability of the NLA concrete declines. As the percentage of cement replaced by NLA increases, the compressive strength falls. Nevertheless, after 28 days of curing, the target value of 15 N/mm2 was reached at replacement value up to 10% NLA. The project's results will shed important light on whether using neem leaf ash as a sustainable substitute in the manufacturing of concrete is feasible.