INTRODUCTION
Concrete is the most commonly used construction material; its usage by the communities across the globe is second only to water. Customarily, concrete is produced by using the Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) as the binder. The usage of OPC is on the increase to meet infrastructure developments. The world-wide demand for OPC would increase further in the future. It is well-known that cement production depletes significant amount of natural resources and releases large volumes of carbon-dioxide. Cement production is also highly energy-intensive, after steel and aluminium. On the other hand, coalburning power generation plants produce huge quantities of fly ash. The volume of fly ash would increase as the demand for power increases. Most of the fly ash is considered as waste and dumped in landfills.
USE OF FLY ASH
The use of concrete has recently gained popularity as a resource-efficient, durable and cost effective. High Volume Fly Ash constitutes about 50% fly ash, a lower water content, low cement content and a low water-cement ratio (W:C) (about 0.4-0.45%). A concrete mix with fly ash can provide environmental and economical benefits. Fly Ash concrete enhances the workability, compressive strength, flexural strength and also increases its pumpability, durability and concrete finishing. It also reduces corrosion, alkali silica reaction, sulphate reaction shrinkage as it decreases its permeability and bleeding in concrete.
Generally, concrete used in the field suffers from lack of durability and homogeneity. Since cement is the only binding material in concrete and due to recent hike in its price, researchers have been looking for apt substitutes. Fly-Ash has been discovered as a suitable supplement. Fly-Ash being a pozzolan reduces the cost of construction and is used for making green concrete, so its adoption enables more sustainability in the concrete industry
The disposal of fly ash is a serious