Enhancement of mechanical properties and durability of the cement concrete by RHA as cement replacement: Experiments and modeling

•Use of RHA as SCM for sustainable development.•Addition of RHA exhibits enhanced mechanical strength and durability of cement concrete.•The developed empirical model incorporates various physical, chemical and mechanical properties of RHA and cement concrete. Concrete fails to withstand against corrosive environment leads to depassivation, corrosion, expansion and concrete cracking. The present investigation focuses on the testing of the durability of cement concrete in corrosive solutions of 5wt% H2SO4 and 5wt% NaCl by adding different types and sizes of RHA. A Taguchi L27 fractional-factorial matrix was designed to assess the individual effects of relevant process variables. From this study, decreasing RHA size increases the bulk density and pozzolanic reaction rate; decreasing thermal diffusivity increases the durability of RHA incorporated concrete. An empirical model predicts the mechanical strength and durability of RHA incorporated cement concrete satisfactorily.