Durability characteristics of Ultra High Strength Concrete with treated sugarcane bagasse ash

•Ordinary Portland cement was replaced with 5–20% by weight of sugarcane bagasse ash.•Compressive strength, chloride penetration resistance and sorptivity tests were carried out.•15% substitution of treated sugarcane bagasse ash (TBA) exhibited a better durability property.•Treated sugarcane bagasse ash could be used in making the ultrahigh strength concrete (UHSC). This paper discusses the feasibility of utilizing sugarcane bagasse ash as a pozzolanic material in the production of Ultra High Strength Concrete (UHSC). Ordinary Portland Cement was replaced with Treated Bagasse Ash (TBA) in this investigation. The replacement dosage varied from 5% to 20% by weight of cement. The effect of bagasse ash on workability, compressive strength, chloride penetration resistance and sorptivity was examined. In addition to this, the effect of different curing regimens on hardened properties of UHSC was carried out. The results proved that it is possible to produce UHSC with cylinder compressive strength more than 160 MPa by incorporating bagasse ash. Optimum replacement ratio of 15% yielded better performance in all the tests, without having any adverse effects on hardened concrete. Convincingly, 20% substitution of sugarcane bagasse ash is good enough for producing UHSC.