Durability and Acoustic Performance of Rubberized Concrete Containing POFA as Cement Replacement
, Mohamad Azim Mohammad Azmi 1, Mohammad Ismail 3 and Jahangir Mirza 4,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors
Manuscript ID: sustainability-2000825
The manuscript structure presented by the authors is clear to the reader but some improvements are required (e.g., rewriting introduction, Material and Methods and Results and Discussion). Although the authors have tried to present a scientific explanation for the results, in some cases it is required a better and deeper interpretation. The final decision is to Reject the manuscript in the present form (but encourage the authors to resubmit an improved version of the manuscript).
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Reviewer' comments are highly appreciated. Attached please find authors response to comments.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
This experimental study evaluates the improvement in the properties of Rubberised concrete incorporating palm oil fuel ash (POFA). Different tests pertaining to water absorption, fire endurance performance, chloride penetration, and acoustic behavior were carried out. The comments of this reviewer are as under:
· 1) Abstract: Line 20: sever studies??
· 2) There is plenty of work has been done by incorporating POFA and tyre rubber aggregate in the concrete. What is the novelty of this study in specific?
· 3) The grinding duration is 1 to 6 hours. Can the authors further explain what kind of grinding procedure was adopted and why such a long duration, if considered 6 hours of grinding duration?
· 4) The pozzolanic reactivity is also dependent on the temperature. At which temperature the authors have burnt the fibers to form POFA?
· 5) More discussions should be carried out in the literature review pertaings to POFA such as;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.123281; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131736;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128049
· 6) Please check the writing of the manuscript and address typos and grammatical errors.
Author Response
Reviewer' comments are greatly appreciated, attached please find the authors response to reviewer' comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
The submitted draft provides extensive details of the experimental results. However, there is very little information about how the experiments were conducted. As received materials. It is not clear to the reviewer how water absorption and rapid chloride penetration is related with the draft name. Other notes are below.
Please give explanations a b c d for the first picture.
Please explain the abbreviation OPC.
Please explain how the sound absorption coefficients are determined.
“satisfactory performance up to 500°C…”. How to understand satisfactory?
“decreased in line with…”. Where is the proof?
Author Response
Reviewer' comments are greatly appreciated. Attached please find the authors response to reviewer' comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors
Manuscript ID: sustainability-2000825
Title: “Durability and Acoustic Performance of Rubberised Concrete containing POFA as cement replacement”
The final decision is to accept the manuscript in its present form.
Author Response
Reviewer' positive comments are highly appreciated.
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have addressed my comments. The paper is acceptable in its current form!
Author Response
Reviewer' positive comments are greatly appreciated.
Reviewer 3 Report
The reviewer recommends that authors review the parameter acoustic absorption throughout the text, because it is not clear whether it is duplicated with sound absorption.
Author Response
Reviewer' comments are highly appreciated. Attached please find the authors response to reviewer' comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
