Strength Properties of Coconut Shell as Coarse Aggregate In Concrete
Neetesh Kumar
Dilip Kumar
Research scholar,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Civil Engineering,
M.M.M.U.T. Gorakhpur
Department of Civil Engineering,
M.M.M.U.T. Gorakhpur
Email id: niteshmmmec@gmail.com
Email id: dilip.itbhu@gmail.com
Abstract: Concrete is an artificial material
In this study, M 25 grade of concrete was
similar in appearance and properties to
produced by replacing coarse aggregate by
some natural lime stone rock. It is a man
coconut shell. Thirty cubes and thirty
made composite, the major constituent being
prismatic bars were casted and their
natural aggregate such as gravel or crushed
compressive strength and flexural strength
rock, sand and fine particles of cement
were evaluated at 7, 14 and 28 days. The
powder all mixed with water. The concrete
compressive strength of concrete reduced as
as time goes on through a process of
well as flexural strength as the percentage
hydration of the cement paste, producing a
replacement increased. Concrete produced
required strength to withstand the load. The
by 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10% replacement
use of coconut shell as coarse aggregate in
attained 28 days compressive strength of
concrete has never been a usual practice
36.44, 36.00, 35.11, 34.67, 34.22 N/mm2
among the average citizens, particularly in
respectively and flexural strength of 4.44,
areas where light weight concrete is required
4.15, 3.85, 3.70, 3.63 N/mm2.respectively.
for non-load bearing walls, non-structural
These results showed that Coconut shell
floors, and strip footings. Coconut is grown
concrete can be used in reinforced concrete
in more than 93 countries. South East Asia is
construction. Its utilization is cost effective
regarded as the origin of coconut. Indonesia
and eco friendly.
has the largest cultivation of coconut about
18 million tones production yearly with 3
million hectares area.
India is the third
largest, having cultivation on an area of
about
2.132
million
hectares.
Annual
production is about 10.56 million tonnes in
India. The overall production of coconut in
2012 was 60.04883715 million tones and
total area was 12.11414137 million hectares.
Keywords:
Coconut
Coarse
Shell,
Aggregate,
Compressive
Crushed
Strength,
Flexural Strength, Waste Utilization
INTRODUCTION
In the world there are many countries in
which coconut is cultivated at a big level.
Here some data is provided according to
production of coconut an area under the
coconut cultivation. The coconut industry in
India accounts for over a quarter of the
compared
world's total coconut oil output and is set to
Moisture retaining and water absorbing
grow further with the global increase in
capacity
demand. However, it is also the main
compared to conventional aggregate. The
contributor to the nation's pollution problem
amount of cement content may be more
as a solid waste in the form of shells, which
when Coconut Shell are used as an aggregate
involves
of
in the production of concrete compared to
approximately 3.18 million tones. Coconut
conventional aggregate concrete. There is
shell represents more than 60% of the
presence of sugar in the Coconut shell as
domestic waste volume. Coconut Shell,
long as it is not in a free form; it will not
which presents serious disposal problems for
affect the setting and strength of concrete. It
local environment, is an abundantly available
is found that wood based materials, being
agricultural
coconut
hard and of organic origin, will not pollute or
industries. In developing countries where
leak to produce toxic substances once they
abundant agricultural and industrial wastes
are bound in concrete matrix. Coconut shell
are discharged, these wastes can be used as
needs no pre treatment, except for water
potential material or replacement material in
absorption. Use of coconut shell aggregate in
the construction industry. This will have the
concrete as structural lightweight concrete is
double advantage of reduction in the cost of
recommended. Coconut shell aggregate is a
construction material and also as a means of
possible
disposal of wastes. The concrete obtained
concurrently
using Coconut Shell aggregates satisfies the
problem of solid waste.
an
annual
waste
production
from
local
minimum requirements of concrete. Concrete
with
of
conventional
Coconut
Shell
construction
reduces
concrete.
are
material
the
more
and
environmental
MATERIALS AND METHOD
using Coconut Shell aggregates resulted in
acceptable strength required for structural
concrete. Coconut Shell may offer itself as a
coarse aggregate as well as a potential
construction
material
in
the
field
of
construction industries and this would solve
the environmental problem of reducing the
The materials used in this experiment were
locally available and these were Ordinary
Portland Cement (O.P.C), sand as fine
aggregate, crushed granite and coconut shell
both as coarse aggregate. Potable water was
used for mixing and curing.
generation of solid wastes simultaneously.
Cement: Ordinary Portland cement 43 grade
The Coconut Shell-cement composite is
was used conforming to IS 8112 – 1989 and
compatible and no pre-treatment is required.
physical property was given below:
Coconut
Shell
concrete
has
better
workability because of the smooth surface on
one side of the shells. The impact resistance
of Coconut Shell concrete is high when
S.N.
1.
Physical property
Compressive
Strength(MPa)
Test
result
48.35
2.
3.
Fineness (%)
Specific Gravity
6
3.06
Fine Aggregate: Sand conforming to ZoneIII was used as the fine aggregate, as per I.S
383-1970. The sand was air dried and free
from any foreign material, earlier than
mixing.
S.N.
shell needs no pre treatment, except for water
absorption. Coconut shell has very high
water absorption. Due to this property,
before use coconut shells were soaked in
potable water for 24 hours.
S.N.
Physical property Test result
1.
Fineness modulus
2.45
2.
Specific Gravity
2.56
3.
Bulk
1530-1600
Density(kg/m3)
Water Absorption 0.80
(%)
4.
fibers to evaluate its properties. Coconut
Coarse Aggregates: Crushed granite was
used as coarse aggregate of size 20 mm and
10 mm both.
Test
result
Size 20
2.
6.48
3.
Specific Gravity
1.56
4.
Bulk
Density(kg/m3)
Water Absorption
(%)
Aggregate
Crushing
Value
(%)
Aggregate Impact
Value (%)
Moisture Content
(%)
Shell
Thickness(mm)
510-600
5.
6.
Physical property
2.
Maximum
(mm)
Fineness modulus
7.25
3.
Specific Gravity
2.70
4.
Bulk
Density(kg/m3)
Water Absorption
(%)
Aggregate
Crushing
Value
(%)
Aggregate Impact
Value (%)
1480-1610
1.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
0.12
Test
result
Size 20
Maximum
(mm)
Fineness modulus
1.
7.
S.N.
Physical property
23
2.49
8.55
4.2
3-6
Methodology used in Experiment
Concrete Mix Design: M-25 grade of
concrete was designed according to I.S
10262-1982 method. The crushed granite
16.60
aggregates were replaced as 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%,
and 10%. The test results were analyzed and
11.01
compared with control concrete that is made
with replacement of coarse aggregate. By
reason of high water absorption of coconut
Coconut Shell: In this work coconut shell
shell, it was pre soaked in water for 24 hours,
was used as partial replacement of coarse
earlier than mixing.
aggregate which is crushed granite. Coconut
shells were unruffled from the local temple
after that it was cleaned, sun dried, removed
Batching and Mixing: Weigh Batching was
accomplished with the help of electronic
weighing balance. Batching was done as for
each the mix proportions. Mixing was done
in tray. It was mixed for 2-3 minutes, later
Compressive Strength of Coconut Shell
Concrete (N/mm2)
than addition of water.
Days
0%
2.5%
5%
7.5%
10%
7
29.78
28.89
28.00
27.56
26.67
are cleaned and oiled to avoid the formation
14
31.56
30.67
30.22
28.89
27.56
of bond between concrete and iron moulds.
28
36.44
36.00
35.11
34.67
34.22
Place the fresh concrete in moulds in 3
The maximum compressive strength of 36.44
layers, tamping each layer with temper 25
N/mm2 was attained at 0% replacement, while the
times. The air which is entrapped in concrete
minimum strength of 34.22 N/mm2 was attained at
is removed by table vibrator.
10% replacement. At 10% replacement, concrete
Placing and Compaction: Cubes and prism
Demoulding: After placing fresh concrete in
cubical moulds and prisms, it was allowed to
set for 24 hours. It was marked with some
permanent identification mark i.e. 1, 2, 3 etc.
Cubes and prisms are now kept in curing
tank for 7, 14 and 28 days. After 7, 14 and 28
days, concrete specimens were removed
from curing tank to conduct tests on
attained 34.22 N/mm2 marginally less than 36.44
N/mm2, the minimum suggested for use as
structural concrete according to the requirements
of BS 8110 – Part1 [7]. The strength reduced as the
percentage of replacement increased. The surface
area increased as the coconut shell increased, thus
requiring extra amount of cement for proper
bonding.
hardened concrete.
Compressive strength is defined as resistance
of concrete to axial loading. Cubes are put in
the machine and after tighten its wheel start
button is pressed as pressure is begin to
apply. Reading of meter is note down when
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
(N/mm2)
TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
7 days Compressive Strength
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
0%
2.50%
5%
7.50%
10%
% of replacement of coconut shell
cracks are there on cubes. Compressive
strength is calculated by following formula:
Where P is load and A is area of cube
Values of compressive strength at different
percentage of replacement at different age
are given below:
14 Days Compressive Strength
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
(N/mm2)
P
Compressive Strength = ,
A
32
30
28
26
24
0%
2.50%
5%
7.50%
% of replacement of coconut shell
10%
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
(N/mm2)
28 Days Compressive Strength
37
Where P = Maximum load applied, N
L = Supported length of the specimen, mm
36
b = Measured width of the specimen, mm
35
34
d = Measured depth of the specimen at the
33
0%
2.50%
5%
7.50% 10%
% of replacement of coconut shell
point of failure, mm
Values of flexural strength at different
percentage of replacement at different age
are given below:
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH (N/mm2)
Compressive Strength Variation
with age
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
7 days
14 days
28 days
Flexural Strength
Concrete (N/mm2)
of
Days
7
14
28
5%
2.89
3.63
3.85
0%
3.33
4.15
4.44
2.5%
2.96
3.85
4.15
Coconut
7.5%
2.81
3.56
3.70
Shell
10%
2.67
3.26
3.63
The maximum flexural strength of 4.44
% of replacement with coconut shell
N/mm2 was attained at 0% replacement,
while the minimum strength of 3.63 N/mm2
was attained at 10% replacement. At 10%
Flexural Strength Test
For flexural test beams of 150×150×700
mm3 size were adopted. The load was
replacement, concrete attained 3.63 N/mm2
marginally less than 4.44 N/mm2.
applied without shock and was increased
Variations of flexural strength with the ages
until the specimen failed, and the maximum
are given below by the help of graph.
load applied which is on the meter to the
prism during the test was recorded. The
appearances of the fractured faces of
Flexural Strength at 7 Days
method was used to measure the flexural
strength
of
Coconut
Shell
Aggregate
Concrete.
The flexural strength of the prisms was
calculated as per given equation
Modulus of rupture, fb =
PL
bd
2
FLEXURAL STRENGTH
(N/mm2)
concrete failure were noted. Three-point load
4
3
2
1
0
0%
2.50%
5%
7.50%
10%
% of Replacement with Coconut Shell
Workability of Coconut Shell Concrete
FLEXURAL STRENGTH (N/mm2)
Flexural Strength at 14Days
5
4
3
2
1
0
0%
2.50%
5%
7.50%
10%
% of Replacement with Coconut Shell
Test
0%
5%
84
2.5
%
63
Slump
(mm)
Compacti
on Factor
10%
68
7.5
%
73
0.91
2
0.91
5
0.91
7
0.92
1
0.92
5
80
Workability analysis is shown by the graph
below:
Slump Test
FLEXURAL STRENGTH
(N/mm2)
Slump (mm)
Flexural Strength at 28 Days
5
4
3
2
1
0
100
50
0
0%
0%
2.50%
5%
7.50%
7.50% 10%
10%
Compaction Factor Test
5
4
3
2
1
0
Compaction Factor
Flexural Strength Varition
with the age
0.93
0.92
0.91
0.9
0%
2.50%
5%
7.50% 10%
% of Replacement with Coconut Shell
7 days
14 days
28 days
CONCLUSIONS
1. It is analyzed that in the replacement
of coarse aggregate with coconut
% of replacement with coconut shell
shell if increase in the percent of
replacement
Workability
deeper
it
reduced
the
compressive strength of the concrete.
The word ‘workability’ signifies much wider
and
5%
% of Replacement with Coconut Shell
% of Replacement with Coconut Shell
FLEXURAL STRENGTH
(N/mm2)
2.50%
meaning
than
the
2. It is observed in this study that
other
flexural strength of concrete reduces
terminology “consistency” often used loosely
as the percent of replacement is
for workability. Consistency is to indicate the
increases.
degree of fluidity or degree of mobility. Two
tests basically have done for workability
namely slump test and compaction factor test
with fresh mix.
3. Density reduced at the increment of
percent replacement.
4. Workability increases as the percent
of replacement increases as the
slump factor and compaction factor
coconut shell aggregate concrete” .
increases.
Construction and Building Materials
So coconut shell can be used as partial
28 (1) 208-215 , 2012
replacement of coarse aggregate as there is
5. K.Gunasekaran, P.S.Kumar et al
marginal difference in strength between
2008, Proceedings of International
coconut shell and convention aggregate.
Conference on Advances in Concrete
Because of it is a waste material and
and
abundantly available in the area of its
2008, Hyderabad, India pp 450-459
production and near the industry used
Construction,
ICACC-2008”,
6. Amarnath
Yeramala,
coconut, one can reduce the effective cost of
Ramchandrudu.C,
(2012),
the concrete and it is also helpful for the
“Properties of concrete with coconut
environmental point of view.
shell as aggregate replacement”,
International Journal of Engineering
Acknowledgements
Inventions,Vol.1, Issue 6, pp 21-31
We extend our thanks to the faculty of civil
engineering
Malviya
department,
University
Madan
of
Mohan
Technology,
Gorakhpur for their contribution during
work.
7. J.
P.
Ries,
J.
Speck,
(2010),
“Lightweight Aggregate Optimizes
the
Sustainability
of
Concrete”,
Concrete Sustainability Conference,
National Ready Mixed Concrete
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