Evaluation of Mechanical and Durability Properties of Concrete Containing Natural Chekneh Pozzolan and Wood Chips

In this paper, effects of natural pozzolan, called Chekneh, as a part of cement replacement and wood chips as a part of mixture aggregates on the mechanical and durability properties of concrete were studied. Nine concrete mixtures proportions within two categories were prepared. In the first category, the properties of concrete were evaluated by adding 10 and 15% of Chekneh pozzolan or wood chips and the second category containing combination of Chekneh pozzolan and wood chips was prepared. The results showed that adding optimal content of natural Chekneh, 10% of cement weight replacement to concrete improves the mechanical properties including flexural, compressive and tensile strength and durability properties of concrete including volumetric water absorption, electrical resistance and rapid chloride permeability. Also, the replacement of 10% wood chips as a part of aggregates causes improvement in mechanical properties of concrete. The combined effect of natural pozzolan and wood chips has the most positive effect on increasing the compressive, tensile and flexural strength in concrete, and the sample which contains 10% pozzolan and 10% wood chips has the most improvement compared to the control sample.