Evaluating the suitability of incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash, polypropylene fibers, and sea sand-seawater in enhancing physico-mechanical properties of lightweight foamed concrete

This study aims to explore the feasibility of replacing traditional components, such as Portland cement, river sand and tap water with sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), polypropylene (PP) fibers, and sea sand-seawater (SSSW) in lightweight foamed concrete (LWFC) production. SCBA was used in the range from 0 to 15% as cement replacement, and PP fibers were used with dosage from 0% to 1% by volume of LWFC. Meanwhile, SSSW was used to completely replace river sand and tap water. The investigation delves into the fundamental physico-mechanical properties of LWFC, encompassing compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and water absorption. The incorporation of SCBA initially displayed a negative impact on the early strength of LWFC, which was mitigated by the favorable effects of PP fibers and SSSW. At later ages, SCBA contributed to increased compressive strength, yet a threshold level was identified beyond which excessive SCBA adversely affected this strength property. Furthermore, statistical regression analyses were employed to interpret test results, revealing promising findings. A regression model was proposed to predict splitting tensile strength LWFC from corresponding compressive strength, yielding an R² of 0.74. Lastly, utilizing SCBA as cement replacement and incorporating SSSW into LWFC production resulted in reduced water absorption.