Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Concrete Using Wood Waste and Silica Fume

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of replacing wood waste (both raw and treated) partially for fine aggregate to reduce the wood waste disposal into the landfill. Four different groups of castings of concrete with wood as partial replacement is casted and divided based on their replacement percentage of both cement and fine aggregate. A total of 30 specimens were casted with partial replacement of fine aggregate (i.e., 5, 7 and 10%) and cement (15%). Tests for determining compressive strength, flexural rigidity, tensile strength, water absorption and Concrete workability were carried out for all specimen. In addition, microstructural properties of concrete were analyzed using UPV test. References have shown that the mechanical properties of concrete decreases with addition of raw wood waste due to excess level of water absorption by the wood waste. This is reduced by alkali treatment of wood waste. Silica fumes were added to study the variation in strength and effects due to wood waste is studied by testing the specimen. Testing results show that the water absorption is reduced and mechanical properties of the concrete are increased due to partial replacement of fine aggregate and cement by treated wood waste and silica fume when compared to concrete with raw wood waste as replacement.