Scientific Advances Journal of Civil and Construction EngineeringAuthor's: A. A. Akindahunsi and H. C. Uzoegbo
Pages: [41] - [58]
Received Date: January 10, 2015; Revised February 6, 2015
Submitted by:
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18642/sajcce_7100121439
The deterioration processes are linked with transport mechanism of
various fluids: gas, ionic diffusion, water absorption and permeation.
Dense and durable concretes are required for concrete structures to be
able to adequately resist aggressive sulphate environment. The effects
of starch extracted from cassava and maize on concretes with starch
introduced as admixtures in various concentrations 
by weight of cement) were produced. The
concrete samples were subjected to an aggressive environment by
placing them in 
sulphuric acid solution for accelerated
assessment of the suitability or otherwise of this organic admixture
in such an environment. Compressive strength tests were carried out on
the cubes at 7, 28, 56, and 90 days, respectively. In order to assess
the depth of penetration of the sulphuric acid solution into the
concrete cubes, a set of concrete cubes was cast and cured for 7, 28,
56, and 90 days, respectively, in the same acidic ( sulphuric 
) solution. Another set of concrete cubes
was cast and cured for the same number of days for a wet and dry
curing regime in the same solution. The outcome showed that maize
starch (MS) concrete of 
and cassava starch (CA) concrete of
gave greater compressive strength, and the
maize starch concretes provide better
resistance to sulphate attack. For the concretes cured by wet and dry
method, CA concretes gave the optimum result both in
increased compressive strength and enhanced durability.
concrete, starch, compressive strength, durability test, sulphate concentration.
