EFFECT OF ORGANIC WASTE (TEFF HUSK) ONTHE CONCRETE PROPERTIES”

Abstract

In Ethiopia Teff (Eragrostis teff) is an important food grain where it is used to for the preparationof Injera which is the major food used. Teff milling generates a by-product known as Teff Husk(TH). In this research, a critical review of the influences of TH on strength of concrete is mainlypresented. Based on the available and documented literature till date, it can be concluded that TeffHusk could be used as a partial replacement of sand up to certain limit due to its particle size.Proper consumption of these TH contributes to solving environmental pollution and production ofcost-effective concrete; it can also play a vital role in the production of sustainable concrete.Ethiopia is a major Teff producing country in Africa continent, and the husk generated duringmilling is mostly used as a foodstuff for animals and fuel for the preparation of food.This research evaluates how Teff Husk will have an impact on the concrete properties of concrete.Sample Cubes were tested with percentage variable (0 – 30%) of fine aggregate by TH in volumewith constant w/c ratio 0.45. Properties like Compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexuralstrength, unit weight, and Water absorption properties are evaluated at different ages of hardenconcrete 7, 14, 21 and 28 days for concrete cylindrical strength 25 MPaFrom the experimental results, the compressive strengths and unit weights of the concrete rangedbetween 28.76MPa and 22.38MPa and between 2296.38 and 2218.64 kg/m3 respectively. Inaddition, flexural strength varied between 0.48 and 0.4 MPa. In conclusion, the results revealedthat the unit weight and compressive strength decreased with increase in percentage teff husk by10 %. The research also revealed that there is a possibility of replacing fine aggregate with Teffhusk in the production of structural concrete for the same grade of concrete.From experimental work it was observed 3 percentage increase in strength of concrete up to 10%replacement of sand by volume hence the concrete produced can be used for all constructionpurpose.