Green Manufacturing and Evaluation of Concrete with Improved Mechanical and Thermal Properties Using OPC Grade 43 and Fly Ash

This paper investigates the effect of Fly Ash on the mechanical and thermal properties of concrete in order to address energy conservation and reduce carbon emissions in the building industry. The study shows that conductive heat transfer is responsible for energy consumption and carbon emissions in buildings. The conductive behavior of concrete is modified by using Fly Ash. The study finds that the inclusion of Fly Ash in the mass of cement significantly improves the compressive strength and toughness, and also increases its durability. Fly Ash can be used to partially replace cement and reduce the greenhouse effect, depending on the type of cement used. The paper presents the results of an experiment in which the compressive strength and thermal conductivity of concrete containing different percentages of Fly Ash were tested. The mix proportion was designed as per IS: 10,262–2009/IS: 456–2000 for M25 with OPC replacement by Fly Ash in percentages of 0, 15, 25, and 35. The study finds that the compressive strength of concrete increases up to 15% of Fly Ash, compared to conventional concrete strength whereas the thermal conductivity of concrete increases by the use of Fly Ash. The study concludes that the use of 15% Fly Ash in M25 concrete can improve its mechanical and thermal properties, making it a more sustainable building material that can help in addressing the issue of energy conservation and reducing carbon emissions, thus having significant implications for the building industry in terms of reducing its carbon footprint.