Investigating the Mechanical and Durability Performance of Concrete with Partial Replacement of Coarse Aggregate and Cement using Waste Tire and Sugarcane Husk Ash

As the need for construction-needed material is growing and sustainable practice is becoming more important, the reutilization of industrial and agricultural waste in concrete material has become the topic of great interest. In this paper, the mechanical and durability properties of C 25 grade concrete in which coarse aggregates and cement are partially substituted with waste tires and sugarcane husk ash (SHA) are studied. Four concrete mixes were tested (0%, 4%, 8%, and 12% replacements), where the mixes were based on the ACI 211 mix design method. A total of 390 specimens were tested against compressive, flexural, and tensile strength at 7, 14, and 28 days. The resistance to the exposure to the HCl acid and water absorption capacity was also tested. Findings indicated that a replacement of up to 8 percent had the ability to increase mechanical properties and acid resistance and have satisfactory density and workability. Beyond 8 percent, the strength performance deteriorated. The research has a potential new and economically productive method of using two sources of industrial-agro waste in the concrete structure, which is specific to the developing countries such as Ethiopia, and supports the objective of a circular economy.