INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025
Page 1265
www.rsisinternational.or
Exploring Bamboo Leaf Ash as Supplementary Cementitious
Material for Enhanced Performance in Compressive and Tension
in Mortar Strength as Construction Materials
1
Md Shajahan Ali,
1
Mohammad Zakir Hossain Khan,
2
Md. Tanim Shahriar,
2
Mst. Reduwana Alam,
2
Laamiha Naznin Mahtab
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and
Technology, Bangladesh
2
Graduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh Army University of Engineering and
Technology, Bangladesh
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.120800109
Received: 07 Aug 2025; Accepted: 13 Aug 2025; Published: 11 September 2025
ABSTRACT
A recent study explored the use of bamboo leaf ash (BLA) as a partial replacement for cement in mortar,
aiming to enhance its strength while promoting environmental sustainability. BLA was added in varying
proportions (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) to a mortar mix with a 1:2.75 sand-to-cement ratio and a water-to-binder
ratio of 0.5. The research focused on evaluating the setting times, consistency, and strength properties, with
forty-eight samples cast for compressive and tensile strength tests. These samples were cured for 7, 14, and 28
days, and tested using 50 mm cubes for compressive strength and briquette molds for tensile strength.
The study found that as the BLA content increased, both consistency and setting times of the mortar also
increased. Notably, a 10% replacement of BLA resulted in the highest improvement in compressive strength at
28 days compared to the control group, and similar enhancements were observed in tensile strength at both 7
and 28 days. The tensile strength values were 1.734 MPa, 2.588 MPa, and 3.018 MPa at 7, 14, and 21 days,
respectively.
This experiment demonstrated that a 10% substitution of bamboo leaf ash significantly enhanced both the
compressive and tensile strengths of mortar. Additionally, the innovative mixture showed potential for crack
mitigation, a rare benefit in typical cement mortars. This highlights the potential of bamboo leaf ash as an
environmentally friendly alternative, reducing the environmental impact of cement production while
improving the durability of the mortar.
Keywords: Bamboo leaf ash, mortar, Cementitious material, Block.
INTRODUCTION
Mortar, a crucial material in construction, uses cement as the binder for various ingredients [1]. Cement
production not only requires significant energy at high temperatures (around 1500 °C) but also contributes
substantially to greenhouse gas emissions [2]. Efforts are being made to reduce manufacturing costs to
improve profitability [3], ensure affordability [4], and increase accessibility [5]. Additionally, efforts to reduce
raw material consumption and mitigate environmental impacts have gained momentum.
In this context, there is growing interest in using waste materials such as bamboo stem [6], ground glasses, and
coal bottom ash [7], along with bamboo leaf ash (BLA) ([8], as partial replacements for cement. These by-
products, whether agricultural or industrial, are environmentally friendly and, when mixed with Portland
cement, form "blended" or "composite" cements [9] [10]. These materials behave similarly to Portland cement
by reacting with water and calcium hydroxide to form cementitious compounds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025
Page 1266
www.rsisinternational.or
Agricultural wastes like oyster shell [11], coconut husk [12], and bamboo leaf ash [13] are being evaluated as
cement substitutes in mortar production [14]. BLA, in particular, has been shown to have pozzolanic properties
[15], making it an effective cement replacement for mortar [16]. Bamboo's fast growth and abundance,
especially in Bangladesh, make it a sustainable source [17].
High-performance mortar (HPM), produced by blending Portland cement with waste by-products, offers
superior mechanical properties [18]. While studies have shown the benefits of using BLA in mortar [19],
optimal inclusion rates remain under investigation. Future research could explore BLA as a viable sustainable
material for mortar production.
MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY
This study goal is to assess the viability of using BLA in mortar in place of cementitious material. A few steps
are taken in order to ascertain the anticipated outcomes. Sincere efforts were made to prepare the materials and
conduct laboratory tests in order to assess the anticipated outcome. When making mortar, the right kind of
BLA was utilized as cement. This is the thesis work's methodological framework [20] as Figure 2.1.
Figure 2.1: Methodological Structure of this Study
Materials
The materials used in this study include Bamboo Leaf Ash (BLA), Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), sand in
Figure 2.2, and water. BLA in Figure 2.3 was obtained by drying bamboo leaves and then incinerating them in
a sealed drum in Figure 2.4. After cooling, the resulting ash was sieved through a 0.1 mm mesh to produce fine
gray ash, which was tested for its granular composition[21]. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in Figure 2.5,
conforming to BS EN 197-1 standards, was used as the binder material for the mortar. Fine sand was sourced
locally, dried for 24 hours, and sieved to remove impurities, with a sieve size of 1.8 mm. Water was used both
for mixing the dry materials and for curing the mortar samples, as water plays a crucial role in the hydration
process of cement-based materials[22].
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025
Page 1267
www.rsisinternational.or
Figure 2.2: Sand
Figure 2.3: Drying Process of Bamboo Leaf
Figure 2.4: Burning of Bamboo Leaf
Figure 2.5: Ordinary Portland Cement with water
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025
Page 1268
www.rsisinternational.or
Methods
In this study, mortar mixes were prepared with varying percentages of BLA (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) as a
partial replacement for cement as Table 2.1, maintaining a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5[23]. The mortar was
mixed with the appropriate amounts of cement, sand, and BLA, and then poured into briquette molds for
tensile testing and 50 mm cube molds for compressive strength testing. The samples were cured under
controlled environmental conditions and tested at 7, 14, and 28 days to determine their compressive in Figure
2.6 and tensile strengths in Figure 2.7. The compressive strength was measured using ASTM C109 standards,
and tensile strength was evaluated using a Cement Mortar Tensile Strength Testing Machine following ASTM
C309 guidelines[24][25]. Results were analyzed to compare the effectiveness of BLA in enhancing the
mechanical properties of mortar.
Table 2.1 Mix Design for Compressive Test and Tensile Strength Testing
Day
BLA
(gm)
Cement
(gm)
BLA + Cement
(gm)
w/c
Water (gm)
Sand (gm)
Cement +Sand (gm)
7
0
100
100
0.5
50
275
375
5
95
100
0.5
50
275
370
10
90
100
0.5
50
275
365
15
85
100
0.5
50
275
360
14
0
100
100
0.5
50
275
375
5
95
100
0.5
50
275
370
10
90
100
0.5
50
275
365
15
85
100
0.5
50
275
360
28
0
100
100
0.5
50
275
375
5
95
100
0.5
50
275
370
10
90
100
0.5
50
275
365
15
85
100
0.5
50
275
360
Total
1110
1200
0.5
600
3300
4410
Figure 2.6: 14-Day Compressive Strength Test for 5% BLA Used
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025
Page 1269
www.rsisinternational.or
Figure 2.7: Tensile Testing Machine Used in Order to Test the Tensile Strength of the Block
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The study investigates the mechanical properties of cement mortar incorporating Bamboo Leaf Ash (BLA) as a
supplementary cementitious material. The results focus on the tensile strength and compressive strength of the
mortar, analysed across various curing periods of 7, 14, and 28 days. The findings highlight the influence of
BLA on the material's strength, and the implications of these results are thoroughly discussed, including
potential applications for BLA-enhanced cement mortar in construction.
Tensile Strength
The Table 3.1 presented the tensile strength of cement mortar incorporating varying percentages of an additive
(likely Bamboo Leaf Ash or another supplementary material) measured over 7, 14, and 28 days. As is typical
with cement-based materials, the tensile strength generally increases over time as the mortar cures.
For the 0% additive (no added material), the tensile strength increased from 1.367 MPa at 7 days to 2.266 MPa
at 28 days, but these values remained consistently below the standard values, which were set at 1.500 MPa for
7 days, 2.000 MPa for 14 days, and 3.00 MPa for 28 days. This indicated that the base material without any
additives does not fully meet the expected strength standards, though it improves over time.
For the 5% additive, the tensile strength values at 7 days (1.239 MPa) and 14 days (1.849 MPa) were close to
the standard values, and the value at 28 days (2.876 MPa) exceeded the standard of 3.000 MPa, suggesting that
the addition of 5% of the additive might significantly improve the long-term strength of the mortar.
The 10% additive showed even better performance, with the tensile strength at 7 days (1.734 MPa), 14 days
(2.588 MPa), and 28 days (3.018 MPa) all surpassing the standard values. This indicateed that the 10%
addition may notably enhanced the material’s strength, especially over longer curing periods, compared to the
0% and 5% compositions.
However, the 15% additive yields less favorable results. The tensile strength values were lower than the
standard values at all time intervals. For example, at 7 days (1.168 MPa), 14 days (1.638 MPa), and 28 days
(1.937 MPa), they fall short of the standard values of 1.500 MPa, 2.000 MPa, and 3.000 MPa, respectively.
This suggests that higher percentages of the additive may negatively affect the tensile strength of the mortar,
likely due to changes in the material's chemical reactions or curing properties.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025
Page 1270
www.rsisinternational.or
Table 3.1 Tensile Strength of Cement Mortar for 7 Days, 14 Days and 28 Days
Description
7 Days
(MPa)
14Days
(MPa)
28 Days
(MPa)
7 Days
(MPa)
Standard Values for
7 days
(MPa)
14 Days
(MPa)
Standard Values for
14 days
(MPa)
28Days
(MPa)
Standard Values for
28 days
(MPa)
0%
1.415
2.112
2.346
1.367
1.500
2.040
2.000
2.266
3.000
1.371
2.046
2.273
1.314
1.961
2.178
5%
1.176
1.756
3.018
1.239
1.500
1.849
2.000
2.876
3.000
1.335
1.993
2.954
1.205
1.799
2.656
10%
1.820
2.715
3.018
1.734
1.500
2.588
2.000
3.018
3.000
1.781
2.658
2.954
1.602
2.391
2.656
15%
1.168
1.743
1.937
1.168
1.500
1.638
2.000
1.937
3.000
1.138
1.700
1.888
0.986
1.471
1.635
Compressive Strength
The table presented the compressive strength of cement mortar incorporating different percentages of an
additive (likely Bamboo Leaf Ash or another supplementary material), measured at 7, 14, and 28 days. The
results showed the material's behavior over time and are compared with standard values for each time interval.
For 0% additive (no additive), the compressive strength increased from 9.850 MPa at 7 days to 17.096 MPa at
28 days, but the values at 7 days and 14 days were lower than the standard values of 12 MPa for 7 days, 20
MPa for 14 days, and 33 MPa for 28 days. This indicated that while the material's strength improved with time,
it did not fully meet the expect standard strength, particularly in the early curing stages.
For the 5% additive, the compressive strength at 7 days (13.953 MPa), 14 days (20.825 MPa), and 28 days
(24.214 MPa) surpassed the standard values for all time intervals. This suggested that the addition of 5% of the
additive improved the mortar's strength and helped it exceed the expected performance over time.
The 10% additive demonstrates excellent resulted, with the compressive strength at 7 days (16.844 MPa), 14
days (25.140 MPa), and 28 days (29.233 MPa) all significantly exceeding the standard values for each time
interval. This indicated that the 10% addition of the material enhances the mortar's strength at all curing stages,
particularly after 14 days and 28 days.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025
Page 1271
www.rsisinternational.or
For the 15% additive, the results showed less favorable performance. The strength values at 7 days (9.413
MPa), 14 days (12.671 MPa), and 28 days (16.338 MPa) were lower than the standard values of 12 MPa for 7
days, 20 MPa for 14 days, and 33 MPa for 28 days, indicating that higher percentages of the additive may
reduce the material’s compressive strength, especially during the initial curing phases.
Table 3.2 Compressive Strength of Blocks for 7 Days, 14 Days and 28 Days
Description
7 Days
(MPa)
14 Days
(MPa)
28 Days
(MPa)
7 Days
(MPa)
Standard Values
for
7 days
(MPa)
14 Days
(MPa)
Standard Values
for
14 days
(MPa)
28 Days
(MPa)
Standard Values
for
28 days
(MPa)
0%
9.257
13.817
16.066
9.850
12
14.703
20
17.096
33
10.842
16.182
18.816
9.453
14.109
16.406
5%
13.953
20.825
24.214
13.953
12
20.825
20
24.215
33
14.383
21.467
24.962
13.056
19.487
22.660
10%
16.844
25.140
29.233
16.844
12
25.140
20
29.233
33
17.622
26.302
30.584
19.148
28.580
33.232
15%
9.413
14.051
16.338
9.413
12
14.051
20
16.338
33
7.301
10.897
12.671
7.954
11.872
13.805
Discussion
At the conclusion of the results explanation, the following inferences were made during the discussion:
1. In discussion, the results suggest that the inclusion of 5% and 10% additives enhances the tensile
strength of cement mortar, particularly over longer curing periods. The 5% additive showed a strength
of 2.876 MPa at 28 days, not exceeding the standard of 3.000 MPa, while the 10% additive achieves
3.018 MPa at 28 days, surpassing the standard values. However, the 15% additive resulted in lower
tensile strength, with values of 1.168 MPa at 7 days, 1.638 MPa at 14 days, and 1.937 MPa at 28 days,
indicating a negative effect on the material’s strength as the finding of Ikumapayi C and Akingbonmire
S (2017) [26].
2. In discussion, the addition of 5% and 10% additive significantly enhanced the compressive strength of
cement mortar. The 5% additive achieved strengths of 13.953 MPa at 7 days, 20.825 MPa at 14 days,
and 24.214 MPa at 28 days, exceeding standard values. The 10% additive performed even better, with
16.844 MPa at 7 days, 25.140 MPa at 14 days, and 29.233 MPa at 28 days, all surpassing the standard
values. However, the 15% additive resulted in lower strengths, with 9.413 MPa at 7 days, 12.671 MPa
at 14 days, and 16.338 MPa at 28 days, falling short of the standard values as the finding of Martin J. et
al. (2015) [27].
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025
Page 1272
www.rsisinternational.or
CONCLUSION
The study leads to the following conclusions:
1. The 5% and 10% additives enhanced tensile strength (2.876 MPa and 3.018 MPa), while 15% reduces
it (1.168 MPa, 1.638 MPa, 1.937 MPa).
2. The 5% and 10% additives enhanced compressive strength (24.214 MPa and 29.233 MPa), while 15%
reduces it (9.413 MPa, 12.671 MPa, 16.338 MPa).
RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER CONTRIBUTION
1. Future studies should aim to find solutions that minimize the decrease in pulling strength caused by BLA,
while maintaining its improvement of crushing strength.
2. Studies on how BLA-enhanced materials hold up over time are necessary to determine their long-term
usefulness in construction.
3. It's essential to thoroughly analyze the environmental consequences of using BLA in building projects.
4. Analysing the cost-effectiveness of BLA as a building material is crucial for its practical application.
Declaration of Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal conflicts of
interest that could have influenced the work reported in this paper.
Author Contributions: MSA: Conceptualization, Supervision, Methodology, Investigation, Writing - Review
and Editing, Validation. MZHK.: Formal Analysis, Writing - Review and Editing. MTH.: Formal Analysis,
Writing - Review and Editing. MRA.: Formal Analysis, Writing - Review and Editing. LNM.: Data Curation,
Formal Analysis, Funding Acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Visualization, Writing -
Original Draft.
REFERENCES
1. A. L. Ramonu John et al., “Compressive strength analysis of conventional design concrete mix
ratio; 1: 2: 4 and non-conventional concrete mix ratio; 1: 3: 3 for the construction industry in
Nigeria,” International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, vol. 10, pp. 1133–1141,
2019.
2. N. Cobîrzan, A.-A. Balog, and E. Moşonyi, “Investigation of the natural pozzolans for usage in
cement industry,” Procedia technology, vol. 19, pp. 506–511, 2015.
3. A. J. Gana, O. D. Atoyebi, and R. B. Ichagba, “Effect of different brands of Nigerian cement on
the properties of pervious concrete,” in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental
Science, IOP Publishing, 2020, p. 012029.
4. F. A. Olutoge and O. M. Oladunmoye, “Bamboo leaf ash as supplementary cementitious
material,” Am. J. Eng. Res, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 1–8, 2017.
5. B. Suhendro, “Toward green concrete for better sustainable environment,” Procedia Eng, vol.
95, pp. 305–320, 2014.
6. C. C. Ikeagwuani, D. C. Nwonu, D. A. Obetule, M. U. Omeje, and T. Festus, “Potential of
bamboo stem ash as supplementary cementitious material in concrete production,” Int. J. Eng.
Res, vol. 8, pp. 75–80, 2019.
7. M. Kasaniya, M. D. A. Thomas, and E. G. Moffatt, “Pozzolanic reactivity of natural pozzolans,
ground glasses and coal bottom ashes and implication of their incorporation on the chloride
permeability of concrete,” Cem Concr Res, vol. 139, p. 106259, 2021.
8. S. O. Odeyemi, R. Abdulwahab, A. A. Abdulsalam, and M. A. Anifowose, “Bond and flexural
strength characteristics of partially replaced self-compacting palm kernel shell concrete,”
Malaysian Journal Of Civil Engineering, vol. 31, no. 2, 2019.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION (IJRSI)
ISSN No. 2321-2705 | DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI |Volume XII Issue VIII August 2025
Page 1273
www.rsisinternational.or
9. P. Asha, A. Salman, and R. A. Kumar, “Experimental study on concrete with bamboo leaf ash,”
Int. J. Eng. Adv. Technol, vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 46–51, 2014.
10. F. A. Olutoge and O. M. Oladunmoye, “Bamboo leaf ash as supplementary cementitious
material,” Am. J. Eng. Res, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 1–8, 2017.
11. J. K. Prusty, S. K. Patro, and S. S. Basarkar, “Concrete using agro-waste as fine aggregate for
sustainable built environment–A review,” International Journal of Sustainable Built
Environment, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 312–333, 2016.
12. M. V Madurwar, R. V Ralegaonkar, and S. A. Mandavgane, “Application of agro-waste for
sustainable construction materials: A review,” Constr Build Mater, vol. 38, pp. 872–878, 2013.
13. G. Dhinakaran and G. H. Chandana, “Compressive Strength and Durability of Bamboo Leaf Ash
Concrete.,” Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 10, no. 3, 2016.
14. S. Liuzzi, S. Sanarica, and P. Stefanizzi, “Use of agro-wastes in building materials in the
Mediterranean area: a review,” Energy Procedia, vol. 126, pp. 242–249, 2017.
15. O. Onikeku, S. M. Shitote, J. Mwero, and A. Adedeji, “Evaluation of characteristics of concrete
mixed with bamboo leaf ash,” The Open Construction & Building Technology Journal, vol. 13,
no. 1, 2019.
16. B. Sharma and A. van der Vegte, “Engineered bamboo for structural applications,” in
Nonconventional and vernacular construction materials, Elsevier, 2020, pp. 597–623.
17. S. O. Odeyemi, M. A. Anifowose, R. Abdulwahab, and W. O. Oduoye, “Mechanical properties
of high-performance concrete with guinea corn husk ash as additive,” LAUTECH Journal of
Civil and Environmental Studies, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 3, 2020.
18. P. Zhang, H. Song, S. Ng, and W. Xu-Hao, “High performance concrete materials with
applications in building and Civil engineering,” Journal of Engineering, vol. 2017, 2017.
19. A. Banjare and S. K. Jaiswal, “Influence of Supplementary Cementitious Materials on High
Strength Concrete,” IJSRD-International Journal for Scientific Research & Development, vol. 5,
pp. 2321–2613, 2017.
20. O. Onikeku, S. M. Shitote, J. Mwero, and A. Adedeji, “Evaluation of characteristics of concrete
mixed with bamboo leaf ash,” The Open Construction & Building Technology Journal, vol. 13,
no. 1, 2019.
21. A. R. BH, S. M. Rashmi, and B. Akki, “Evaluation Of Bamboo Leaf Ash As Supplementary
Cementitious Material In Concrete,” Rare Metal Materials and Engineering, vol. 52, no. 11, pp.
24–30, 2023.
22. M. Frías, H. Savastano, E. Villar, M. I. S. de Rojas, and S. Santos, “Characterization and
properties of blended cement matrices containing activated bamboo leaf wastes,” Cem Concr
Compos, vol. 34, no. 9, pp. 1019–1023, 2012.
23. S. O. Odeyemi et al., “Mechanical properties and microstructure of High-Performance Concrete
with bamboo leaf ash as additive,” Clean Eng Technol, vol. 6, p. 100352, 2022.
24. C. M. Ikumapayi and S. L. Akingbonmire, “Effects of elevated temperature on splitting tensile
strength of opc and bla pozzolanic concrete and mortar,” FUOYE Journal of Engineering and
Technology, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 124–128, 2017.
25. H. S. Djayaprabha, “The influence of calcium oxide doses as an activator on the compressive
strength and mechanical characteristics of cement-free mortar containing ground granulated blast
furnace slag,” in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing,
2023, p. 012029.
26. C. M. Ikumapayi and S. L. Akingbonmire, “Effects of elevated temperature on splitting tensile
strength of opc and bla pozzolanic concrete and mortar,” FUOYE Journal of Engineering and
Technology, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 124–128, 2017.
27. J. S. Martin, Z. D. Friedenreich, A. R. Borges, and M. D. Roberts, “Acute effects of peristaltic
pneumatic compression on repeated anaerobic exercise performance and blood lactate
clearance,” The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, vol. 29, no. 10, pp. 2900–2906,
2015.
