Taguchi-Based Optimization of Cellulose Nanocrystal and Fly Ash Dosage in Concrete for Enhanced Strength

More, Varsha; Bhalchandra, Surekha; Jamkar, Sanjay

doi:10.2478/cee-2025-0081

Abstract

The integration of industrial by-products and nanomaterials in concrete offers a sustainable approach while improving mechanical performance. This study investigated the combined effects of Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNC) and Fly Ash (FA) on the compressive strength of standard concrete using the Taguchi method. An L25 orthogonal array was designed with three parameters: FA (0–40 %), CNC (0–0.8 %), and Superplasticizer (0.6–1 %) across five levels. The results showed that the optimal composition for maximum 28-day compressive strength (53.97 MPa) was 20 % FA, 0.2 % CNC, and 0.6 % superplasticizer. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that CNC had the highest contribution (51.18 %) to strength improvement. The findings validated the Taguchi method as an effective optimization tool for sustainable concrete design.

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Taguchi-Based Optimization of Cellulose Nanocrystal and Fly Ash Dosage in Concrete for Enhanced Strength

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