Abstract—Use of concrete paver blocks is becoming increasingly popular. They are used for paving of approaches, paths and parking areas including their application in pre-engineered buildings and pavements. This paper discusses the results of an experimental study conducted on Fly Ash Concrete with the aim to report its suitability for concrete paver blocks. In this study, the effect of varying proportions of fly ash, 20% to 40%, on compressive strength and flexural strength of concrete has been evaluated. The mix designs studied are M-30, M-35, M-40 and M-50. It is observed that all the fly ash based mixes are able to achieve the required compressive and flexural strengths. In comparison to control mixes, the compressive and flexural strengths of the fly ash based mixes are found to be slightly less at 7-days and 28 days and a little more at 90 days. Keywords—Compressive strength, flexural strength, high volume fly ash concrete, paver blocks. I. INTRODUCTION ONCRETE paver blocks were first introduced in Holland in the fifties as replacement of paver bricks which had become scarce due to the post-war building construction boom. These blocks were rectangular in shape and had more or less the same size as the bricks. During the past five decades, the block shape has steadily evolved from non- interlocking to partially interlocking to fully interlocking shapes. Consequently, the pavements in which non- interlocking blocks are used are designated as ‘Concrete Block Pavement (CBP)’ or non-interlocking CBP, and those in which partially, or fully interlocking blocks are used are designated as ‘Interlocking Concrete Block Pavement (ICBP)’ [1]. CBP/ICBP consists of a surface layer of small-element, solid un-reinforced pre-cast concrete paver blocks laid on a thin, compacted bedding material which is constructed over a properly profiled base course and is bounded by edge restraints/kerb stones. The block joints are filled using suitable fine material. A properly designed and constructed CBP/lCBP gives excellent performance when applied at locations where conventional systems have lower service life due to a number of geological, traffic, environmental and operational constraints. Many number of such applications for light, medium, heavy and very heavy traffic conditions are currently Dr. Som Nath Sachdeva is Professor in Civil Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, 136119, Haryana, India (phone: +911744233347; fax: +91238350; e-mail: snsachdeva@ yahoo.co.in). Dr. Vanita Aggarwal is formerly research scholar of Civil Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, 136119, Haryana, INDIA, and presently Professor in M.M. Engineering College (Deemed University), Mullana, District Ambala, India (phone: +918059930707; e-mail: aggarwal_vanita@rediffmail.com). Dr. S.M. Gupta is Professor in Civil Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, 136119, Haryana, India (phone: +911744233348; fax: +91238350; e-mail: sm_gupta85@rediffmail.com). in practice around the world. In India, the recommended usages are given in Table I [1]. The use of fly ash in concrete paver blocks is aimed at reducing cement content and heat of hydration leading to better economy and durability. It will also help in safe- guarding the environment from ill effects of CO 2 emissions from cement industry and contribute towards the solution for safe disposal of fly ash produced by thermal power plants. II. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The present study aims at evaluating the performance of high volume fly ash concrete for paver blocks for use in pavements and other application areas. As compressive and flexural strengths are the most significant properties for concrete paver blocks [2], the same have been studied for various concrete mixes with varying percentages of fly ash. III. MATERIALS USED AND THEIR PROPERTIES The materials used in the study are: (i) Crushed coarse aggregate and fine aggregate (coarse sand) of Yamuna Nagar region. (ii) Cement: OPC-43 grade. (iii) Fly ash obtained from Panipat Thermal Power plant. (iv) Potable water. Table II gives the grading of 20mm and 10mm size aggregates. The fine aggregates conform to grading zone II having fineness modulus as 3.034. Various relevant test results of the properties of materials used in the mix designs have been given in Tables III and IV. IV. MIX DESIGNS A. Design Stipulations • Characteristic compressive strength required in the field at 28 days is 30, 35, 40 and 50 N/mm 2 for four mix designs of M-30, M-35, M-40 and M-50 respectively. • Nominal maximum size of aggregates is 12.5mm (crushed) [1]. • Thickness of paver blocks = 80mm • Degree of workability = Zero slump, suitable for paver blocks • Degree of quality control: Good • Design aids: IS: 10262 [4] • Coarse aggregates grading as per IS: 383 [3]. B. Proportioning of Coarse Aggregates Their grading of coarse aggregate as given in Table II is found to be such that only 10mm size aggregate can be used in the mix designs as the nominal maximum size of aggregate recommended to be used for paver blocks is 12.5mm [1]. High Volume Fly Ash Concrete for Paver Blocks Som Nath Sachdeva, Vanita Aggarwal, S. M. Gupta C World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Vol:8, No:3, 2014 242 International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(3) 2014 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/9997626 International Science Index, Civil and Environmental Engineering Vol:8, No:3, 2014 waset.org/Publication/9997626