Published on: April 2026
SYNERGISTIC MULTI-SCM AND RCA APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE: A REVIEW
Desani Chintan Ashokbhai
Prof. B.A.Vyas
Article Status
Available Documents
Abstract
High-performance concrete (HPC) that draws on supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) is attracting growing research interest as the construction sector seeks to reduce both its carbon footprint and its dependence on virgin resources. This paper reviews recent experimental investigations into the individual and combined use of rice husk ash (RHA), silica fume (SF), fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), metakaolin (MK), and alccofine as partial cement replacements, together with RCA as a natural aggregate substitute. Optimal replacement levels of RHA (10–20%), SF (10–20%), GGBFS (30–40%), and MK (7.5–12.5%) raise compressive strength by 5–45% while densifying the pore structure and extending service life. RCA can replace up to 50–60% of natural aggregate without unacceptable strength loss when SCMs are incorporated. RHA also acts as an internal curing agent in ultra-high performance concrete, delaying self-desiccation and markedly reducing autogenous shrinkage. Critical research gaps are identified and recommendations for future investigations toward environmentally sustainable HPC are provided.
How to Cite this Paper
Ashokbhai, D. C. (2026). Synergistic Multi-SCM and RCA Approach for Sustainable High-Performance Concrete: A Review. International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, <i>02</i>(04). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i4.1038
Ashokbhai, Desani. "Synergistic Multi-SCM and RCA Approach for Sustainable High-Performance Concrete: A Review." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management, vol. 02, no. 04, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i4.1038.
Ashokbhai, Desani. "Synergistic Multi-SCM and RCA Approach for Sustainable High-Performance Concrete: A Review." International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management 02, no. 04 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijcope.v2i4.1038.
References
[1] K. Gayathiri and S. Praveenkumar, “Quaternary blended eco high performance concrete utilizing high volumes of siliceous additives,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 430, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.136389.[2] A. Dushimimana, A. A. Niyonsenga, and F. Nzamurambaho, “A review on strength development of high performance concrete,” Constr. Build. Mater., Nov. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124865.
[3] K. Rajashekhar Reddy, M. Harihanandh, and K. Murali, “Strength performance of high-grade concrete using rice husk ash (RHA) as cement replacement material,” Mater. Today Proc., Elsevier Ltd, 2021, pp. 8822–8825, doi: 10.1016/j.matpr.2021.04.332.
[4] M. Alharthai et al., “Enhancing concrete strength and durability through incorporation of rice husk ash and high recycled aggregate,” Case Stud. Constr. Mater., vol. 22, Jul. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e04152.
[5] M. Safiuddin, J. S. West, and K. A. Soudki, “Hardened properties of self-consolidating high performance concrete including rice husk ash,” Cem. Concr. Compos., vol. 32, no. 9, pp. 708–717, Oct. 2010, doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2010.07.006.
[6] L. A. Qureshi, B. Ali, and A. Ali, “Combined effects of supplementary cementitious materials (silica fume, GGBS, fly ash and rice husk ash) and steel fiber on the hardened properties of recycled aggregate concrete,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 263, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120636.
[7] T. N. P. Durai, S. Kandasamy, and A. R. S. Christabel, “Enhanced mechanical properties in green concrete through innovative blends of GGBFS, alccofine, and metakaolin,” Hybrid Adv., vol. 11, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.hybadv.2025.100520.
[8] A. N. Swaminathen, C. V. Kumar, S. R. Ravi, and S. Debnath, “Evaluation of strength and durability assessment for the impact of Rice Husk Ash and Metakaolin at High Performance Concrete mixes,” Mater. Today Proc., Elsevier Ltd, 2021, pp. 4584–4591, doi: 10.1016/j.matpr.2021.05.449.
[9] R. W. Suomie, B. P. Mishra, and S. Das, “Performance of rice husk ash (RHA) and recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) for sustainable concrete: A review,” Next Mater., Jul. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.100778.
[10] V. T. A. Van, C. Rößler, D. D. Bui, and H. M. Ludwig, “Rice husk ash as both pozzolanic admixture and internal curing agent in ultra-high performance concrete,” Cem. Concr. Compos., vol. 53, pp. 270–278, 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2014.07.015
Ethical Compliance & Review Process
- •All submissions are screened under plagiarism detection.
- •Review follows editorial policy.
- •Authors retain copyright.
- •Peer Review Type: Double-Blind Peer Review
- •Published on: May 01 2026
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. You are free to share and adapt this work for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution.

