Characteristics of reactive powder concrete comprising synthesized rice husk ash and quartzite powder

This research investigates the utilization of synthesized rice husk ash (SRHA) as alternative pozzolanic materials to replace silica fume (SF) and quartzite powder (QP) as filler in the production of plain reactive powder concrete (RPC). To achieve this aim, compressive strength, elastic modulus, flexural strength, direct tensile strength, autogenous shrinkage, and absorption rate were evaluated. Furthermore, two different curing methods were used after the casting of the specimens. The results showed that the combination of SRHA and QP with a low cement weight of 636 kg/m3 was able to produce an RPC compressive strength of more than 100 MPa at day 28. It was also discovered that the optimum ratio of 30% SRHA and 61% QP improved the RPC properties more compared to the other tests while the 35% SRHA applied to produce plain RPC had high compressive strength.