Lightweight Concrete Using Oil Palm Boiler Clinker (OPBC) – A Review

Department of Engineering, UCSI University, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

^a Corresponding author : brendalee@ucsiuniversity.edu.my

Abstract

Lightweight concrete can be effectively produced by replacing normal aggregates (60% to 75% of concrete volume) with a lighter alternative. With depleting natural resources, utilising waste materials, such as oil palm boiler clinker (OPBC), in concrete for structural use is one way to mitigate environmental concerns raised by the construction industry. This paper presents a review of the mechanical properties, structural behaviour and performance of OPBC concrete. Lightweight concrete using OPBC can be designed to achieve different compressive strengths with different mixes. The different OPBC concrete mixes result in different densities and workability. The degree of content and the type of OPBC substitutes used affect the flexural strength and 28-day splitting tensile strength of OPBC concrete. A different effect was observed in the modulus of elasticity as the drying shrinkage and water absorption of OPBC concrete are also impacted. This review study also compares the structural performance of OPBC concrete to that of conventional concrete.