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TECHNICAL PAPER


              40   33.63  28.30                                      60  53.19   47.85   45.04
            Compressive strength at 28 days   30  25.04  19.85  14.37  10.37  Compressive strength at 28 days   40  38.81  29.19  19.85
              35
                                                                     50

              25
              20
                                                                     30
              15
                                                                     20
              10


               0 5                                                   10
                   M30   M30-PA20 M30-PA40 M30-PA60 M30-PA80 M30-PA100  0  M50  M50-PA20M50-PA40M50-PA60M50-PA80M50-PA100
                                   Specimen                                                Specimen
               (a) Different M30 concrete mix compressive strength at 28 days   (b) Different M50 concrete mix compressive strength at 28 day
                                                 Figure 3: Compressive strength test eesults

           drop, with 20 % pumice substituted. The M30-PA40 mix strength   results in a more significant loss of strength. Though the strength
           further decreased to 25.04 MPa with 40 % replacement, a 25.5 %   remained comparatively greater, the decline was not as great
           decrease. The M30-PA60 mix strength decreased by 40.9 %   as at higher levels (above 60 %). Therefore, it was determined
           to 19.85 MPa with 60 % pumice. The compressive strengths of   that a 40 % pumice substitution was ideal for M30 concrete in
           the M30-PA80 and M30-PA100 mixes decreased to 14.37 MPa   applications requiring considerable strength and workable for
           and 10.37 MPa, respectively, upon 80 and 100 % replacement,   M50 concrete in situations requiring somewhat less strength
           representing decreases of 57.3 and 69.2 %. Likewise, the initial   but still significant strength. Considering these results, the 40 %
           compressive strength of the M50 mix was 53.19 MPa. The M50-  pumice replacement level was chosen for additional testing to
           PA20 mix strength decreased by 10.0 % to 47.85 MPa when 20 %   assess the modulus of rupture tests on prism specimens and the
           pumice was substituted. The M50-PA40 mix strength dropped   split tensile strength tests on cylinder specimens.
           to 45.04 MPa with 40 % replacement, a 15.3 % decline. The   5.3  Split tensile strength
           M50-PA60 mix strength further decreased to 38.81 MPa with
           60 % pumice, a 27.0 % drop. The compressive strengths of the   On control concrete and concrete with the optimal dose of
           M50-PA80 and M50-PA100 mixes dropped to 29.19 MPa and   pumice aggregate, a split tensile strength test was carried out as
           19.85 MPa with 80 % and 100 % replacement, respectively,   shown in Figure 4(a). The test findings showed that replacing the
           indicating decreases of 45.1 and 62.7 %. The 20 % replacement   coarse aggregate with pumice caused a decrease in the tensile
           level seems to be the dose for both M30 and M50 concrete,   strength of the M30 and M50 concrete mixes. The split tensile
           where the strength drop was still within allowable bounds. When   strength of the M30 concrete was first determined to be 3.54
           compared to 20 % replacement, the 40 % replacement level   MPa. But when pumice was used in place of 40 % of the coarse
                                                                                        Split tensile strength
                                                                    4.50
                                                                    4.00    3.54                   3.82
                                                                   Split tensile strength (MPa)  3.00  1.42   1.84
                                                                    3.50

                                                                    2.50
                                                                    2.00
                                                                    1.50
                                                                    1.00
                                                                    0.50
                                                                    0.00
                                                                            M30       M30-PA40     M50       M50-PA40
                                                                                            Specimen
              (a) Split tensile strength on M30 concrete mix cylindrical specimen   (b) Different M30 and M50 concrete mix split tensile strength at 28 days
                                                    Figure 4: Split Tensile strength test


                                                                           THE INDIAN CONCRETE JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 2026  59
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