Resistance to Wear, Durability and Micro Structural Properties of CBA as Sand Replacement in Mortar

This study investigated the effects of coal bottom ash (CBA) as a replacement for natural sand on the properties of mortar. The compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, SEM analysis and durability of mortar were studied. Natural sand was replaced with coal bottom ash by 10 percentage increment up to 100 percentages by weight at a fixed water-cement ratio 0.47. The test specimens were maintained in a solution of Sodium chloride and magnesium sulphate for 180 days with a normality of 1.58 and 0.58, respectively, and their effects on the compressive strength and weight were studied. The results showed that the compressive strength, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity increased when the percentage of replacement of CBA increased up to 20 percentages, but decreased when the percentage replacement of CBA increased beyond 20% whereas density linear decreased. The tensile strength was increased up to the 30 percentage replacement and decreased for further replacements, whereas loss on abrasion was less up to 30 percentage replacement and increased for further replacement. When the specimens were maintained in a solution of Sodium chloride and Magnesium sulphate for 180 days, loss of compressive strength and weight was observed.