TO STUDY THE STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE USING RICE HUSK ASH AND MARBLE POWDER

Non-Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (NAAC) is light weight concrete whose density is less than the clay bricks because of its foam-like structure. NAAC can be used as an alternative construction material in modern world. The purpose of this investigation is to replace clay bricks in construction with NAAC blocks. This paper adopts an experimental approach on the use of rice husk ash and marble powder as a partial replacement of cement in the production of NAAC. In this study the properties such as water absorption, density, compressive strength and split tensile strength of the prepared sample is checked. Percentage of aluminium powder used is 0.02 times total dry weight of material to design NAAC blocks having size 70.6mm×70.6mm×70.6mm. Material is filled up to 2/3rd height of mould. Results show that the optimum value of compressive strength of NAAC is obtained for combined replacement of cement with 5% of RHA and 5% of marble powder i.e. 5.22 N/mm2 . It is observed from the test result that these NAAC blocks can perform better than C-class clay bricks because of less water absorption and less density. Compressive strength obtained for sample is within the range of C- class bricks i.e. 5N/mm2 to 7.5N/mm2 . Cost obtained for all NAAC block is approximately equal to Rs. 3.5/block. The usage of NAAC block can reduce the cost of overall construction because of its less density it will reduce the overall dead load on structure which will result in less material requirement.