Muhamad Afif Iman

Bio: Muhamad Afif Iman is an academic researcher from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Compressive strength & Ultimate tensile strength. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 10 publications receiving 27 citations.

Mechanical properties and flexure behaviour of lightweight foamed concrete incorporating coir fibre

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental investigation on the mechanical properties and flexural behaviour of lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) with added coir fibre as filler. The compressive strength (Pt), tensile strength (Ft), modulus of elasticity (E), ultimate load and crack pattern of the foamed concrete were determined. The coir fibre was added to the foamed concrete mixture at 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% of the total weight of cement. Effects of various percentage of coir fibre used on foam concrete's mechanical and properties and flexural behaviour were studied and analysed. It was found that the increase percentage of fibre resulted in increase in compressive strength, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of LFC mixture. LFC with added coir of 0.3% experienced the smallest crack propagation.

Utilization of construction and agricultural waste in Malaysia for development of Green Concrete: A Review

Abstract: Green Concrete (GC) is defined as a concrete that utilize a waste material for at least one of its component. The production of GC has been increasing due to the drawback of conventional concrete that create many environmental problems. In Malaysia, the amount of waste generates from agricultural and construction industries were increasing every year. Hence, one of the solutions to reduce the impact of conventional concrete and limited landfill spaces due to excessive waste is by utilizing it in concrete. This paper reviews the possible use of construction waste (Recycle Concrete Aggregate) and agricultural waste (Palm Oil Fuel Ash, Rice Husk Ash and Palm Oil Fibre) as partial replacement for the basic material in a concrete to produce an innovative Green Concrete. The optimum replacement level for each type of waste was also been review. Green Concrete also has the potential to reduce environmental pollution and solve the depletion of natural sources. The result from this review shows that the addition of agricultural waste or construction waste in concrete indicate positive and satisfactory strength when compared to normal concrete. Finally, a mass production of Green Concrete can fulfil the Construction Industry Transformation Plan (CITP) 2016-2020 made by CIDB that emphasizes on a construction system which is environmentally sustainable.

Effect of combining Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as partial cement replacement to the compressive strength of concrete

Abstract: The increase in agricultural waste has been one of the main concerns today. Usually, the excessive waste is dumped in the landfill without any consideration to the environment. Previous research has found that waste containing highly reactive silica can react with calcium hydroxide in concrete resulting in a compact concrete microstructure. Hence, this paper focuses on the mechanical properties of concrete containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as replacement of cement in concrete and also the combination of both materials as pozzolan in one concrete mix. Properties studied include its workability for fresh concrete, and compressive strength of hardened concrete. Replacement level for POFA and RHA was at 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% by weight of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). Results show that the addition of 10% to 30% of POFA and RHA reduces concrete workability from 35 mm to 20 mm for POFA and 39 mm to 21mm for RHA. Replacement of POFA and RHA at 10% has the highest compressive strength compared to other replacement level. Finally, the optimum combination for POFA and RHA to achieve the targeted strength of 30 MPa was recorded at 10% POFA and 15% RHA.

Effect of combining Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as pozzolan to the compressive strength of concrete

Abstract: The increase in agricultural waste has been one of the main concerns today. Usually, the excessive waste is dumped in the landfill without any consideration to the environment. Previous research has found that waste containing highly reactive silica can react with calcium hydroxide in concrete resulting in a compact concrete microstructure. Hence, this paper focuses on the mechanical properties of concrete containing Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as replacement of cement in concrete and also the combination of both materials as pozzolan in one concrete mix. Properties studied include its workability for fresh concrete, and compressive strength of hardened concrete. Replacement level for POFA and RHA was at 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% by weight of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). Results show that the addition of 10% to 30% of POFA and RHA reduces concrete workability from 35 mm to 20 mm for POFA and 39 mm to 21mm for RHA. Replacement of POFA and RHA at 10% has the highest compressive strength compared to other replacement level. Finally, the optimum combination for POFA and RHA to achieve the targeted strength of 30 MPa was recorded at 10% POFA and 15% RHA.

Rice Husk Ash-Based Concrete Composites: A Critical Review of Their Properties and Applications

Abstract: In the last few decades, the demand for cement production increased and caused a massive ecological issue by emitting 8% of the global CO2, as the making of 1 ton of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) emits almost a single ton of CO2. Significant air pollution and damage to human health are associated with the construction and cement industries. Consequently, environmentalists and governments have ordered to strongly control emission rates by using other ecofriendly supplemental cementing materials. Rice husk is a cultivated by-product material, obtained from the rice plant in enormous quantities. With no beneficial use, it is an organic waste material that causes dumping issues. Rice husk has a high silica content that makes it appropriate for use in OPC; burning it generates a high pozzolanic reactive rice husk ash (RHA) for renewable cement-based recyclable material. Using cost-effective and commonly obtainable RHA as mineral fillers in concrete brings plentiful advantages to the technical characteristics of concrete and to ensure a clean environment. With RHA, concrete composites that are robust, highly resistant to aggressive environments, sustainable and economically feasible can be produced. However, the production of sustainable and greener concrete composites also has become a key concern in the construction industries internationally. This article reviews the source, clean production, pozzolanic activity and chemical composition of RHA. This literature review also provides critical reviews on the properties, hardening conditions and behaviors of RHA-based concrete composites, in addition to summarizing the research recent findings, to ultimately produce complete insights into the possible applications of RHA as raw building materials for producing greener concrete composites—all towards industrializing ecofriendly buildings.

A state-of-the-art review on coir fiber-reinforced biocomposites

Abstract: The coconut (Cocos nucifera) fruits are extensively grown in tropical countries. The use of coconut husk-derived coir fiber-reinforced biocomposites is on the rise nowadays due to the constantly increasing demand for sustainable, renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable materials. Generally, the coconut husk and shells are disposed of as waste materials; however, they can be utilized as prominent raw materials for environment-friendly biocomposite production. Coir fibers are strong and stiff, which are prerequisites for coir fiber-reinforced biocomposite materials. However, as a bio-based material, the produced biocomposites have various performance characteristics because of the inhomogeneous coir material characteristics. Coir materials are reinforced with different thermoplastic, thermosetting, and cement-based materials to produce biocomposites. Coir fiber-reinforced composites provide superior mechanical, thermal, and physical properties, which make them outstanding materials as compared to synthetic fiber-reinforced composites. However, the mechanical performances of coconut fiber-reinforced composites could be enhanced by pretreating the surfaces of coir fiber. This review provides an overview of coir fiber and the associated composites along with their feasible fabrication methods and surface treatments in terms of their morphological, thermal, mechanical, and physical properties. Furthermore, this study facilitates the industrial production of coir fiber-reinforced biocomposites through the efficient utilization of coir husk-generated fibers.

Palm Oil Fuel Ash-Based Eco-Efficient Concrete: A Critical Review of the Short-Term Properties.

Abstract: The huge demand for concrete is predicted to upsurge due to rapid construction developments. Environmental worries regarding the large amounts of carbon dioxide emanations from cement production have resulted in new ideas to develop supplemental cementing materials, aiming to decrease the cement volume required for making concrete. Palm-oil-fuel-ash (POFA) is an industrial byproduct derived from palm oil waste’s incineration in power plants’ electricity generation. POFA has high pozzolanic characteristics. It is highly reactive and exhibits satisfactory micro-filling ability and unique properties. POFA is commonly used as a partially-alternated binder to Portland cement materials to make POFA-based eco-efficient concrete to build building using a green material. This paper presents a review of the material source, chemical composition, clean production and short-term properties of POFA. A review of related literature provides comprehensive insights into the potential application of POFA-based eco-efficient concrete in the construction industry today.