Strength and Sustainability in Concrete: The Dual Role of Fly Ash and Accelerators in Reducing Environmental Impacts

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials has driven researchers to explore environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional concrete. This study aims to investigate the dual role of fly ash and chemical accelerators in enhancing both the strength and sustainability of concrete. The research focuses on optimizing the compressive strength of concrete by replacing 50% of cement with fly ash and incorporating various dosages of superplasticizers and accelerators. Compressive strength tests were performed after 18 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, and 28 days to assess early and long-term strength performance. Additionally, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed to assess the environmental impact of using fly ash in concrete production. The results show that all concrete variants achieved high early strength, with compressive strength values ranging from 32 MPa to 68 MPa within 24 hours, meeting the criteria for high early strength concrete. LCA analysis indicates that fly ash utilization significantly reduces the carbon footprint of concrete by reducing cement consumption. This research recommends the adoption of fly ash-based concrete with appropriate chemical additives as a sustainable solution to reduce environmental impacts in the construction industry while maintaining the required structural performance.

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