Innovative concrete mix boosts strength and durability for sustainable construction.
The researchers studied how adding fly ash and silica fume to coral aggregate concrete affects its strength and durability. They found that adding these materials improved the cohesiveness and water retention of the concrete. While coral aggregate concrete had lower compressive strength, it had higher splitting tensile strength, water sorptivity, and chloride penetration due to its porous nature. Fly ash improved strength at later ages, while silica fume improved strength at all ages. Combining fly ash and silica fume reduced water absorption and chloride permeability, and improved the hardness of the concrete. Using 25% fly ash and 5% silica fume together produced the best results compared to using only silica fume.