Durability and microstructure analysis of concrete made with volcanic ash: A review (Part II)

Abstract

Concrete is the most frequently employed man-made material in modern building construction. Nevertheless, the serviceability of concrete structures has been significantly reduced owing to a variety of durability issues, especially when serving in a non-ideal environment and exposed to internal/external attacks such as chloride penetration, carbonation, sulfate, and so on. Several scholars have performed numerous studies on the strength and microstructure features of volcanic ash (VA) concrete and have discovered encouraging findings. However, since the information is spread, readers find it difficult to evaluate the benefits of VA-based concrete, limiting its applicability. As a result, a detailed study is required that offers the reader an easy approach and highlights all essential facts. The goal of this article (Part Ц) is to conduct a compressive review of the physical and chemical aspects of VA and its impact on concrete durability and microstructure properties. The findings demonstrate that VA considerably improves concrete durability owing to pozzolanic reaction and micro-filling voids in concrete materials. Cost–benefit analysis shows that 10% utilization of VA as cement decreased the overall cost by 30%. The assessment also notes a research gap that must be filled before VA may be utilized in practice.

Keywords

• volcanic ash
• concrete
• durability
• heat of hydration
• scanning electronic microscopy