Investigation of Concrete Performance with Industrial Wastes as Partial Cement Alternatives for Sustainable Production Using Taguchi Optimization

The construction industry's reliance on Portland cement has resulted in significant environmental challenges, necessitating the development of sustainable alternatives through industrial waste valorization. This study investigates the systematic optimization of concrete compressive strength using fly ash, silica fume, and rice husk ash as partial cement replacements through Taguchi methodology. An L9 orthogonal array experimental design was employed to evaluate the effects of binder combinations, concrete grades (M20, M25, M30), and aggregate proportions on compressive strength performance. Two experimental sets were conducted with varying industrial waste proportions to determine optimal parameter combinations. The results demonstrate that concrete grade contributes 78.4% and 70.2% to strength variation in Sets 1 and 2 respectively, while binder type contributes 12.8% and 18.2%. The optimal combinations achieved predicted compressive strengths of 50.96 N/mm² (Set 1) and 49.61 N/mm² (Set 2), representing significant improvements over control concrete. Statistical analysis using ANOVA confirmed model reliability with R² values of 97.4% and 97.2%. The findings provide a systematic framework for sustainable concrete production using industrial waste materials while maintaining superior performance characteristics.