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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Application

ISSN: 3048-6807

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Strength, Durability, and Microstructural Performance of M30 Grade Concrete

Author(s):Ramesh Kumar , Shalini Devi , Arjun Patel

Affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Bhartiya Institute of Technology and Science, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India Department of Construction Materials, Vinayak Institute of Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

Page No: 28-33

Volume issue & Publishing Year: Volume 3, Issue 5, 2026/05/06

Journal: International Journal of Advanced Engineering Application (IJAEA)

ISSN NO: 3048-6807

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20069146

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Abstract:
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) production contributes approximately 8% of global CO₂ emissions, driving widespread interest in supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) that can simultaneously reduce carbon intensity and enhance concrete performance. Fly Ash (FA), the alumino-silicate particulate recovered from coal-fired thermal power plant exhaust streams, and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), the glassy by-product of iron smelting, are two of the most abundantly available industrial by-products in India, with annual production exceeding 180 million tonnes and 35 million tonnes respectively. While individual replacement of OPC with FA or GGBS has been studied extensively, systematic investigation of their combined ternary use at optimised proportions in M30 grade concrete — particularly under the elevated temperature and high relative humidity conditions representative of peninsular Indian construction environments — remains limited. This study evaluates fresh, hardened mechanical, and durability properties of M30 concrete with FA (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% by weight cement replacement) and a ternary blend (10%FA + 5%GGBS) across five mix designs. Compressive strength was measured at 28, 56, and 90 days; flexural and split tensile strength at 28 days; water absorption and Rapid Chloride Permeability Test (RCPT) at 90 days; and microstructural characterisation by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) at 28 days and 90 days. Load-deflection response was evaluated for reinforced concrete beams (150×200×1200 mm). Results confirm that 15% FA replacement achieves optimal 90-day compressive strength of 39.4 MPa, exceeding the M30 design strength by 31%, while the ternary blend (10%FA+5%GGBS) achieves 41.2 MPa at 90 days with chloride permeability of 710 C (RCPT) and CO₂ reduction of 25% versus control. SEM reveals dense interfacial transition zones and reduced calcium hydroxide crystallinity in SCM-modified specimens. The ternary blend is recommended as the optimal mix design for structural concrete in Indian conditions balancing strength, durability, and sustainability.

Keywords: fly ash, GGBS, supplementary cementitious materials, M30 concrete, compressive strength, durability, chloride permeability, SEM, EDX, carbon emissions, India

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