Low-fines self-consolidating concrete using rice husk ash for road pavement: An environment-friendly and sustainable approach

[Display omitted] •PQC requires energy-consuming vigorous vibrations for compaction while LF-SCC renders advantages similar to that of SCC i.e. self-compaction but with lesser fines (350–550 kg/m3).•LF-SCC mixes with up to 50 % of RHA are found to satisfy the requirements of IRC: 44–2017 for the construction of either village roads or urban roads.•20% of RHA as cement-replacing material is found to be optimum in the production of LF-SCC.•FE-SEM and EDX analysis shows the development of more CSH gel and other strength-enhancing compounds with 20% of RHA as compared to other mixes.•An MCDM method i.e. VIKOR method is used for the optimization of the mixes. This article presents the characteristics of low-fines self-consolidating concrete (LF-SCC) with rice husk ash (RHA) replacing cement (OPC) at 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, and 50 % by weight for the construction of rigid pavement. Results show that RHA up to replacement level 20 % positively improves properties of the LF-SCC, on further inclusion of RHA above 20 %, they decrease. All of the mixes' fresh properties comply with European standards. In application to pavement construction, all the six LF-SCC mixes are satisfying the required limits of 20MPa for 7 days early strength, 30 MPa to 40 MPa for 28 days’ compressive strength for rural and urban roads, respectively; and 3.8 to 4.5 MPa for 28 days’ flexural strength for rural and urban roads, respectively. The results of durability tests reveal that the mixes are less water absorbing, less permeable to water and other weathering agents. Thus, the mixes are well suitable for the construction of road pavements.