ABSTRACT

This research project aims to investigate the potential of neem leaf as a partial replacement for cement in determining the compressive strength of concrete. Neem leaf is a natural material with various beneficial properties, including antimicrobial and insect-repellent characteristics. This study seeks to explore the possibility of utilizing neem leaf as a sustainable alternative to cement, which is a widely used construction material but has a significant environmental impact due to its production process. The compressive strength of concrete is a crucial factor in assessing its structural integrity and suitability for various applications. By partially replacing cement with neem leaf, this study aims to determine the effect on the compressive strength of concrete and evaluate the feasibility of using neem leaf as sustainable construction materials.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROVAL ............................................................................................................ i

DECLARATION ................................................................................................... ii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT....................................................................... iii

CERTIFICATION ............................................................................ iv

DEDICATION ...................................................................................... v

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................. vi

ABSTRACT ................................................................................. xi

 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 1

1.1 AIM/OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................. 2

1.1.1    AIM .................................................................................................................................. 2

1.1.2    OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ..................................................................................... 2

1.2 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY ....................................................................... 3

1.2.1 SCOPE: .................................................................................................................................. 3

1.2.2 LIMITATION ........................................................................................................................ 4

1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT ....................................................................................................... 4

1.4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO KNOWLEDGE: ................................................................................ 5

1.5 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS .......................................................................... 7

CHAPTER TWO 

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................................... 9

2.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 9

2.2 THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................... 10

2.3 PROPERTIES OF NEEM LEAF............................................................................................ 11

2.4 EFFECT OF NEEM LEAF ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ........................................... 13

2.5 WHAT WE ACHIEVED AT COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ............................................... 14

2.6 THE PURPOSE OF NEEM LEAVES REPLACEMENT IN CONCRETE .......................... 14

2.7 CONCRETE ........................................................................................................................... 15

2.7.1 PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE .......................................................................................... 15

2.8 CEMENT ................................................................................................................................ 16

2.8.1 PROPERTIES OF CEMENT .............................................................................................. 16

2.9 CEMENT IN MODERN CONSTRUCTION ......................................................................... 17

2.10 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ............................................................................................. 17

2.11 INTRODUCTION TO CONCRETE AND SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION .............. 18

2.12 NEEM LEAF: AN INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 18

2.13 PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF CEMENT WITH NEEM LEAF ..................................... 18

2.14 THE UNCHARTED TERRITORY OF 0% REPLACEMENT ........................................... 18

2.15 CURRENT GAPS IN RESEARCH: THE 0% REPLACEMENT SCENARIO .................. 19

2.16 MATERIALS AND METHODS .......................................................................................... 19

CHAPTER THREE 

3.0 INRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 21

3.1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: .......................................................................................... 21

3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN ............................................................................................................ 21

3.2.1 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ......................................................................................... 22

3.3 STUDY SITE .......................................................................................................................... 22

3.4 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT ........................................................................................ 22

3.4.1 MATERIALS ....................................................................................................................... 22

Figure 7; Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) ............................................................................... 22

Figure 8; aggregate ...................................................................................................................... 23

Figure 9; water ............................................................................................................................. 23 Figure 10; neem leaves ash .......................................................................................................... 24

3.5 EQUIPMENT ......................................................................................................................... 24

Figure 11: compressive strength machine .................................................................................... 25 Figure 12; curing of the concrete ................................................................................................. 26

3.6 SAMPLE PREPARATION .................................................................................................... 26

3.6.1 CONCRETE MIX COMPOSITION ................................................................................... 26 3.6.2 SAMPLE SIZE .................................................................................................................... 26 figure 14; slump test...................................................................................................................... 27

3.7 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TESTING ............................................................................. 28

3.7.1 TESTING FREQUENCY .................................................................................................... 28 Page |

3.8 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................ 28

3.9 LIMITATIONS ....................................................................................................................... 28

3.10 INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION ...................................................................... 28

3.10.1 SELECTION OF INSTRUMENTS ................................................................................... 28

3.10 DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUE ................................................................................. 29

3.10.1 SAMPLE PREPARATION ............................................................................................... 29

Figure 15; after removal the mould   figure 16; the concrete after compaction ....................................................................................................................................................... 29

3.11 MIX DENSITY ..................................................................................................................... 29

3.12 STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS .................................................................................... 31 

CHAPTER FOUR 

4.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................. 32

4.1 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................... 32

4.1.1 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ANALYSIS: NEEM LEAF REPLACEMENT RATIO ... 32

Table 1: neem leaf replacement ratio ........................................................................................... 33

Figure 1: comparison between compressive strength of concrete with different percentages with

respect to curing periods. ............................................................................................................. 34 4.1.2 SIEVE ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................. 35

Table 2: sieve analysis of fine aggregate ...................................................................................... 35

Figure 2: grading curve distribution for fine aggregate .............................................................. 36

4.2 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS ............................................................................................... 36

4.2.1 IMPLICATIONS ................................................................................................................. 37 

CHAPTER FIVE 

5.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 39

5.1 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ 39

5.2 RECOMMENDATION .......................................................................................................... 39

5.3 CONCLUSION

REFERENCE  

 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 

Ordinary Portland cement is one of the most important binding materials in terms of quantity produced. Since it is manufactured at very high temperatures, it consumes a lot of energy. Along with huge amounts of energy consumption, it emits harmful gases, which pollute the atmosphere. This affects the durability of Portland cement pastes, mortars and concretes. Natural pozzolans are vitreous cementitious materials, which by themselves possess little or no cementing value, but finely ground in the presence of moisture, they will chemically react with calcium hydroxide at ordinary temperatures to form hydrated phases possessing cementing properties. A sincere attempt has been made to study the possibility of using neem leaf ash as a partial substitute to cement, as it is amorphous in nature and has been found to have pozzolanic properties after calcination. Neem is a composite material which grows abundantly in our country. Since the cost of cement is high, neem leaves ashs are partially replaced with cement. Using the facilities present nowadays partial replacement by increasing the percentages of the neem leaves ash as 5% ,10%, 15% and decreasing the amount of cement the strengths such as compressive strength have been planned in our project (Anandan et al., 2018).

The use of waste materials with pozzolanic properties in concrete production is a worldwide practice. The assessment of the pozzolanic activity of cement replacement materials is becoming increasingly important because of the need for more sustainable cementing products. One way is to use certain low cost materials for partial replacement of Portland cement clinker. Low cost materials used are industrial and agricultural by-products (wastes). Mixture of Portland cement and the above by-products are known as „blended cements‟ or „composite cements‟. By definition blended cements are hydraulic binders in which a part of Portland cement is replaced by other hydraulic or non-hydraulic materials. Their general behavior is quite similar to that of Portland cement since they harden when mixed with water and form the same hydration products. The most common ingredients for blending with Portland cement clinkers are latent hydraulic component (blast furnace slag), or a pozzolanic component such as pozzolana, neem leaf ash, such as lime stone and other waste materials. Neem leaf is probably the fastest-growing and highest yielding natural resource and construction material available to mankind. However, the use of neem leaf generates other residues not used as fibers, such as the neem leaf. In some countries, significant amounts of neem  are processed, generating high volumes of solid waste. These wastes are often burnt in open landfills, negatively impacting the environment. In literature, the studies about the pozzolanic properties of neem wastes are scarce(Asha et al., 2014).

1.1 AIM/OBJECTIVES

1.1.1 AIM

 The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of partial replacement of cement with alternative materials on compressive strength of concrete.  

1.1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

•      To determine the compressive strength of concrete samples with varying levels of cement replacement.

•      To compare the compressive strength results of concrete mixtures with different percentages of cement replacement.

•      To analyze the effect of partial cement replacement on the durability and long-term performance of concrete. 

•      To assess the economic and environmental implications of reducing cement usage through partial replacement

1.2 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

1.2.1 SCOPE:

The scope of this project is to investigate the effect of partial replacement of cement with alternative materials on the compressive strength of concrete. The project aims to assess the feasibility and performance of utilizing these alternative materials as sustainable substitutes for cement in construction.

•      Selection of materials:

The project involves selecting and testing various alternative materials that can partially replace cement such as neem leaf ash. The proportions of these materials in concrete mixes will vary to determine their influence on the compressive strength.

•      Experimental Design:

The project involves conducting laboratory experiments to prepare concrete specimens with different percentages of cement replacement. A control group with 100% cement was compared against several test groups with varying replacement percentages (e.g. 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%). The concrete mixtures was carefully designed and produced following relevant standards and guidelines.

•      Analysis and Evaluation:

The obtained data was analyzed to determine the relationship between the percentage of cement replacement and the resulting compressive strength. Statistical methods and analytical tools was employed to interpret the data and draw meaningful conclusions. The project assess the feasibility and performance of the alternative materials in terms of their impact on compressive strength

1.2.2 LIMITATION

•      The study focuses solely on the compressive strength of concrete and did not consider other properties such as durability, flexural, or tensile.

•      The investigation limited to the use of specific supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and their replacement percentages. Other alternative materials or higher replacement percentages was not been considered in this study.

•      The experiment was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, which may not fully represent real- world construction scenarios.

•      The project didn‟t consider the long-term effects of partial cement replacement on the structural performance of concrete.

•      The study didn‟t analyze the economic implications of using SCMs or the potential environmental benefits associated with reduced cement usage.

•      The research findings limited to the specific concrete mix proportions, SCMs, and testing methods employed in the project and may not be directly applicable to different concrete compositions or construction practices

1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT 

The objective of this project is to investigate the effect of partial replacement of cement on the on the compressive strength of concrete. Cement, which is a key concrete, is known to have a significant environmental impact due to its high carbon emissions during production. Therefore, it is important to explore alternative materials or methods that can reduce the cement content in concrete without compromising its structural integrity.

The specific aim of this project is to determine the optimum percentage of cement replacement with a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) while maintaining the desired compressive strength of the concrete. The SCM to be studied was neem leaf ash that has the potential to partially replace cement.

This project involves conducting laboratory experiments to produce concrete specimens with varying percentages of cement replacement using the selected SCM. The compressive strength of these specimens was tested at different curing ages to assess the effect of the partial cement replacement. The result was analyzed statistically to determine the optimum percentage of cement replacement and evaluate any changes in other mechanical properties.

The findings of this study contribute to sustainable construction practices by providing insights into the feasibility and performance of using SCMs as a partial replacement for cement in concrete production. By reducing cement consumption, the project aims to minimize the environmental impact associated with concrete production while ensuring the structural integrity and performance of the concrete.

1.4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO KNOWLEDGE:

This project contributes to knowledge in several ways:

•      Understanding the Suitability of Alternative Materials: By conducting experiments to determine the compressive strength of concrete with partial replacement of cement with 0% of cement, this project helps to assess the suitability of various alternative materials. Neem leaf ash, have been considered as cement substitutes in previous research. This project provides valuable insights into the performance of these materials, their optimal replacement percentages, and their influence on compressive strength.

•      Optimization of Mix Proportions:

The project's findings contribute to the optimization of mix proportions for concrete with partial cement replacement.

The experiments involve varying the replacement percentages of cement and analyzing the resulting compressive strength. This helps determine the optimal replacement ratio, which balances the desired strength requirements with the efficient utilization of alternative materials. The knowledge gained can guide concrete mix design processes, enabling engineers to create more sustainable concrete structures without compromising strength.

•      Performance Evaluation of Concrete:

By evaluating the compressive strength of concrete mixtures with partial cement replacement, this project provides a comprehensive assessment of the material's performance. The research contributes to understanding the effects of various factors, such as curing conditions, age, and replacement percentages, on concrete's compressive strength. 

•      Sustainability Considerations:

One of the key contributions of this project lies in its emphasis on sustainability. By exploring the partial replacement of cement, the research addresses the environmental impact associated with traditional cement production. Cement production is a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions, and finding alternatives that can reduce or eliminate the need for cement can significantly contribute to mitigating climate change. This project's findings provide valuable information for promoting sustainable construction practices and reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment.

1.5 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

•      CEMENT: 

Cement is a fine powder, typically composed of limestone, clay, shells, and silica, that, when mixed with water, forms a paste. This paste hardens over time through a chemical reaction known as hydration. Cement serves as the binding agent in concrete, holding the other components together. Common types of cement include Portland cement, which is widely used in construction, and various specialized types for specific applications.

•      WATER: 

Water is essential for the chemical reaction of cement hydration. When mixed with cement, it forms a paste that coats the aggregate particles and eventually hardens into concrete. The watercement ratio is a critical factor in concrete mix design, as it affects the workability, strength, and durability of the concrete.

•      AGGREGATES:

Ø  Gravel (Coarse Aggregate): Coarse aggregate typically consists of larger, crushed stone or gravel particles. It provides bulk and strength to concrete and is used to reduce the amount of cement paste needed. The size and quality of coarse aggregate can influence the properties of the concrete, including its compressive strength and durability.

Ø  Sand (Fine Aggregate): Fine aggregate consists of smaller particles, such as sand. It fills the spaces between the coarse aggregate and the cement paste. Sand improves the workability of the concrete mix and contributes to the overall strength. The particle size and shape of the sand are important factors in determining the concrete's properties.

 

 NEEM LEAVES ASH:

Neem leaves ash is derived from the burning or incineration of neem leaves (Azadirachta indica). Neem is a tropical tree known for its numerous properties, including insect-repellent and antimicrobial characteristics.