SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF HIGH- PERFORMANCE CONCRETE (HPC) USING LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIAL FROM THE NIGER DELTA

Abstract

This paper explores the sustainable production of High-Performance Concrete (HPC) utilizing locally sourced materials from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. We examined key factors of high-performance concrete (HPC) that are essential for the construction industry, including workability, durability, and strength. A total of 1350 concrete cubes were tested using various curing mediums such as fresh water, chlorine, and sulfur to explore the impact of chikoko as an admixture on concrete's strength and durability, particularly when combined with uniformly or well-graded sand. By applying multiple regression analysis, we optimized the calcination temperature and admixture concentration of pulverized chikoko in M25-grade concrete, using uniformly graded Abraka sand as the fine aggregate. The results showed that the control (NS) concrete had an average compressive strength of 32.59 N/mm² at 28 days, while PS (with pulverized sand) recorded a significantly lower value of 21.78 N/mm², a 49.84% reduction in strength due to pulverization. A quadratic relationship between admixture concentrations (0-20%) was observed, with 10% CPC proving to be optimal for enhancing PS concrete strength. The strength advantages of NS concrete were nullified Sustainable Production of High-Performance Concrete (HPC) using Locally Sourced Material from the Niger Delta https://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJCIET 33 editor@iaeme.com at 10% CPC calcined at 600°C. The optimized CPC-NS concrete met HPC standards for both strength and durability, offering promising results for areas with limited access to well-graded sand. This study underscores the effectiveness of chikoko-based admixtures in improving concrete properties, contributing to the development of more sustainable and durable construction materials.