Effects of coarse palm oil clinker on properties of self-compacting lightweight concrete

Abstract

Self-compacting lightweight concrete (SCLWC) is an innovative high performance concrete which uses palm oil clinker (POC), a waste by-product from the palm oil industry, as the lightweight aggregates. This paper presents a research on the effects of utilising only POC as coarse aggregates on the fresh and hardened properties of SCLWC. Properties of SCLWC were compared to self-compacting concrete (SCC) containing crushed granite aggregates. Tests of slump flow, V-funnel, J-ring, L box and sieve segregation were conducted to characterise the self-compactability in fresh state. The hardened concrete specimens were tested for density, water absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compression, tensile splitting and flexural. Results revealed that both mixes had fulfilled the self-compactability requirements as per European Guidelines whereby the fresh SCLWC exhibited better filling ability and passing ability at low segregation resistance. The inclusion of coarse POC reduced the concrete density and strength, but the SCLWC exhibited good UPV values despite greater porosity in the concrete. It can be concluded that the POC can be potentially used as coarse aggregates for producing SCLWC to manage the waste and promote environmental sustainability.