Experimental Study on Fly-Ash Aggregate as a Lightweight Filler in a Structural Element

Abstract. Light-weight structures are widely used in the construction field. Light-weight fillers such as aggregates can be used to improve weightless structures. Generally, standard aggregates cannot be used to attain the desired weight for light-weight structures. To determine a light-weight filler, the aggregates are made by using fly-ash along with cement mortar. Fly ash was collected from the Mettur Thermal power plant. Cement and fly-ash were mixed in a concrete mixer in a proportion of 30:70 with a water-cement ratio of 0.3 and it is mixed until the pellets are formed. The aggregates are replaced at different percentages such as 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% respectively to the coarse aggregate. The properties such as compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength were taken. The maximum strength was attained at 30% of fly-ash aggregate with a compressive strength of 46.47 N/mm2, split tensile strength of 14.85 N/mm2 and flexural strength of 3.80 N/mm2.