{
  "abstract": "Coal bottom ash (CBA), a byproduct of coal-based power plants, offers a potential route for reducing the environmental footprint of cement-based materials used to produce lightweight cellular concrete. This study experimentally investigates the influence of CBA as a partial cement replacement on the fresh, mechanical, durability, non-destructive, and microstructural properties of lightweight cellular concrete. For this purpose, six mixtures were developed at a target density of 1600 kg/m ³ . The whole experimental procedure includes a control mix, a mix having 5% silica fume (SF) only (S5CB0) and other mixes containing a constant 5% SF with 0–20% CBA replacement. Compressive strength (CS) and splitting tensile strength tests were performed along with ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) to assess the destructive and non-destructive properties. Furthermore, water absorption and rapid chloride permeability were measured to assess durability performance. In addition, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy were evaluated for evaluating microstructural morphology. Based on the results, 10% CBA replacement achieved 8.85% and 10.59% increases in CS over the S5CB0 mix at 28 and 56 days, respectively. The same mix recorded UPV improvements of 11.74% and 8.52%, respectively. Furthermore, the chloride-ion charge passed decreased by 11.55% and 10.87% at 28 and 56 days, respectively, for 10% CBA replacement over the mix having 5% SF only. Microstructural observations and EDS results further supported the formation of a comparatively compact aluminosilicate-rich matrix at moderate CBA content. In addition, the 10% CBA and 5% SF combination reduced embodied CO ₂ emissions by almost 8.95% relative to the S5CB0 mix. Overall, under the investigated conditions, 5% SF with 10% CBA combination provided balanced mechanical, durability, microstructural, and environmental performance.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Khaled A. Alawi Al-Sodani",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2572-4243"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5jn8a6eztrmf7.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-77140-1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "5jn8a6eztrmf7",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77140-1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2205|Concrete and Cement Materials Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223237617",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77140-1_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5jn8a6eztrmf7.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:33Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-77140-1",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77140-1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [],
  "title": "Evaluating the effectiveness of coal bottom ash on the mechanical durability and microstructural characteristics of lightweight cellular concrete",
  "title_text": "Evaluating the effectiveness of coal bottom ash on the mechanical durability and microstructural characteristics of lightweight cellular concrete",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:33Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5jn8a6eztrmf7",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}