AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY ON THE SUITABILITY OF SESAME PLANT MUCILAGE (SESAMUM INDICUM) AS ADMIXTURE IN CONCRETE

¹Zakka, P.W, ³Bako, W, ⁴Yohanna, H.S, ²Bang, D.P, ¹Agboju, S.E, ¹Goh, D.J., ¹Williams, F.N., ¹Okala, D.E., and ¹Alaku, P.O

¹Department of Building, University of Jos, Nigeria.

²Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Jos, Nigeria.

³ECWA College of Health Technology Kagoro

⁴Department of Building Technology, Bells University of technology, Ota

ABSTRACT

Concrete’s durability and strength are the most important features of structural design and are required for compliance in the construction industry. Ordinary concrete may not meet the desired quality, strength, or durability in certain circumstances. Admixture is used in these situations to change the properties of ordinary concrete to make it more suitable for any situation. The suitability of sesamum mucilage as an admixture in concrete was investigated in this research along with its chemical composition and specific gravity which was calculated to be 2.25. A mix ratio of 1:1.84:2.88, water cement ratio of 0.60 and a target mean strength of 20.65 was used. Concrete cubes, Cylinders and Beams were cast, in which sesamum mucilage was added in 0%, 1%, 1.5% and 2%. 0%(control) had a slump of 35mm and a compacting factor of 0.95 which makes it workability low, 1% had a slump of 10mm and a compacting factor of 0.89 which makes it workability very low, 1.5% had a slump of 4mm and a compacting factor of 0.89 which makes it workability also very low while 2% had a slump of 58mm and a compacting factor of 0.95 which makes it workability low. Results for the hardened properties of concrete made with sesamum mucilage in 0%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% at 28 days of hydration were found to be 0%(28.00N/mm²), 1%(31.30N/mm²), 1.5%(32.20N/mm²) and 2%(30.80N/mm²) for the compressive strength, 0%(3.34N/mm²), 1%(3.39N/mm²), 1.5%(3.77N/mm²) and 2%(3.50N/mm²) for the split tensile strength test, 0%(4.33N/mm²), 1%(5.42N/mm²), 1.5%(6.33N/mm²) and 2%(5.58N/mm²) for the flexural strength test. However, for the rate of water absorption, all the concrete specimen made with sesamum mucilage have low water absorption capacity compared to the plain concrete with result of 0%(4.93%), 1%(4.52%), 1.5%(3.52%) and 2%(3.69%). Concrete specimen subjected to heat at 1000^oC had a result of 0%(5.30N/mm²), 1%(5.50 N/mm²), 1.5%(6.70 N/mm²) and 2%(5.70 N/mm²). There was a general increase in the strength properties of concrete which includes compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength and compressive strength of concrete cubes after being subjected to heat at different temperature due to increase in percentage content of the sesamum mucilage and increase in the hydration period. However, 2% had a slight decrease in strength, it was still higher than 0% and 1% but not high as 1.5%. This study shows that sesamum plant