Effect of Sugarcane Molasses on Compressive Strength and Workability of Fly Ash Mixed Concrete

Abstract

Molasses, a by-product of sugar industry, is used as a water reducing, retarding admixture in fly ash mixed concrete. The positive effects of fly ash as a partial replacement of cement on the strength and durability of concrete are recognized through numerous researches. In this study, mechanical property such as compressive strength and workability of concrete adding fly ash and sugarcane molasses sourced from southern Maharashtra has been investigated. Effect of molasses with concentrations of 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2% and 0.25% by weight of cement, cured at 7, 28 and 56 days were examined. The strength of concretes with various dosages of molasses showed slight increase at 7-day age against concrete without molasses. The compressive strength test results showed significant strength gain at all ages for 0.15% dosage molasses but peaks at 43.89% at 28 days. However, there was no significant increase in strength from 28 to 56 days which peaks 4.8% for 0.15% dosage. The slump values were observed to increase linearly with increase in dosage of molasses from 0.1% to 0.25% respectively.