Development of Water Absorption Predictive Model for Metakaolin-Cement Blended Lateriwinkle Concrete Using Response Surface Method (RSM)

The study involves the use of the response surface method to develop a predictive model for predicting the water absorption value of metakaolin-cement blended lateriwinkle concrete (MCBLC). MCBLC concrete used was produced by partial replacement of cement with metakaolin (MK) at 15%, percentage replacement of fine aggregate with laterite (LT) at 23.7378% and percentage replacement of coarse aggregate with periwinkle shell at 20% as optimum mix using 0.5 water/cement ratio. The optimum mix ratio was achieved by using central composite design (CCD) in response surface methodology using design expert software. The assessment of the water absorption property of MCBLC at 28 days showed a promising result. The rate of water absorption of MCBLC samples was reduced compared to the controlled samples. The water absorption value of MCBLC was 5.51% compared to the control sample at 12%. The predictive model developed predicted the water absorption value of MCBLC as 5.55714%. Experimental validation of the model gave a 5.55714% water absorption value.