Total shrinkage, chloride penetration, and compressive strength of concretes that contain clear-colored rice husk ash

•Clear-colored rice husk ash (RHA) does not change the color of concrete and enables its use in ready-mix concrete.•Replacement of Portland cement (PC) with 5% RHA reduces the cost per m3 of concrete.•Increasing the RHA content in concrete increases its total shrinkage and compressive strength.•Greater replacement levels reduce the concrete’s total passing charge.•The chloride penetration evaluated before and after shrinkage by sprinkling AgNO3 exhibited the opposite behavior. This study investigated total shrinkage, which is a rarely examined property, as well as the penetration of chlorides before and after shrinkage and the compressive strength of concretes containing clear-colored rice husk ash substituted for 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% of their Portland cement and subjected to wet curing periods of 3 and 7days. The results showed that increasing the RHA content increased the concrete’s total shrinkage and compressive strength, as well as the penetration of chlorides after shrinkage. A cost analysis of the concrete used at ready-mix concrete companies was performed. The study concluded that concretes containing 5% RHA replacement and compressive strength levels between 35 and 55MPa had a lower cost/m3 than that of the reference concrete containing 100% Portland cement.