FATMA WIDADI BINTI BADRUL JAMILI POLITEKNIK SULTAN MIZAN ZAINAL ABIDIN
Urban drainage systems based on heavily on durable and safe drain covers to ensure structural performance for pedestrian safety. However, conventional concrete covers often suffer from excessive weight, cracking under repeated loads, and limited sustainability due to high cement consumption. Motivated by the need for eco-friendly infrastructure, this study explores the use of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and clinker as partial cement replacements in the design of innovative concrete drain covers. The problem addressed is the lack of ergonomic yet structurally reliable drain covers that balance performance with environmental responsibility. To investigate this, concrete mixes incorporating various proportions of POFA and clinker were prepared and tested. The methodology included slump tests to evaluate workability, cube tests to measure compressive strength, and durability assessments under simulated drainage conditions. Model drain covers were fabricated and compared against standard of mixes concrete. Results indicate that mixes containing POFA and clinker achieved satisfactory workability and compressive strength values exceeding 40 MPa at 7 and 28 days, while reducing cement usage significantly. Based on the experimental analysis, the concrete mixture containing 20% Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and 30% clinker demonstrated the best performance, achieving a compressive strength of 21.5 MPa. This result indicates that the optimum mixture has the potential to meet the strength requirements specified in MS EN 12390-3:2021. In conclusion, the integration of POFA and clinker offers a practical solution for producing innovative drain covers that enhance safety, reduce environmental impact, and support sustainable construction practices.
Keywords: Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), Clinker, Concrete Drain Covers, Compressive Strength, Eco-Friendly Infrastructure