Strength characteristics of Cocoa Leaf Ash (CLA) blended cement Laterized concrete

This study characterises Cocoa Leaf Ash (CLA), which was obtained by the calcination of cocoa leaves at 600°C for 2 hours. The pozzolanic properties of CLA was obtained by using the X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) test and the ash was blended with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) at 0%, 10%, 15% and 20% CLA contents by weight of cement. Fresh samples of laterized concrete (LATCON) were obtained by substituting fine sand with 0%, 10%, 20% and 25% of laterite fines and the resulting fresh blended cement LATCON samples were evaluated for their workability. After 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of total immersion of hardened concrete specimens, the mechanical property (compressive strength) was measured. The incorporation of CLA into the LATCON matrix performed averagely with respect to the compressive strength obtained for the evaluated samples.  Primarily at a replacement level of 10% CLA of OPC and 10% lateritic soil replacement of fine sand, CLA-LATCON achieved 79.44% of the target strength at 28 days of curing. Therefore, CLA and LATCON can be effectively engaged and combined to produce green concrete which could be used for foundation footings, pavements, building blocks and masonry.