COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF WASTE COCONUT

SHELL BLENDED CONCRETE MIX AND CONVENTIONAL CONCRETE MIX SAMPLES

To Be Presented To The Faculty Of Engineering Department Naga College

Foundation Naga City

In Partial Fulfilment of The

Requirements for The

Methods of Research

ANGELO JOHN R. JAVINEZ

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 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Global attention has been focused on environmental preservation due to

alarming depletion of ozone layer because of pollution resulting from manufacturing

processes. It was reported that “cement production, coarse aggregate mining,

processing and transportation operations accounts for about 7% of the global loading of

carbon dioxide into the atmosphere due to considerable amount of energy consumed,

thereby affecting the ecology of the forested areas and river beds where coarse

aggregate gets.

To reduce environmental degradation, close attention is now being paid to

material recycling and the use of agricultural and industrial wastes in concrete

production. In civil engineering practice in the Philippines like construction works, large

volumes of coarse aggregates are usually used in production of a concrete. Gambhir

(2008) reported that coarse aggregates constitute about 75 to 85% of the concrete that

had been used in civil and construction works. Concrete being one of the major building

materials that is used virtually in all aspects of the construction and could be delivered

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 to the job site and be molded in situ or pre-cast to any form or shape, make it a

material choice in construction. The significance and relevance of coarse aggregate like

waste coconut shell satisfy the concrete production in all areas of civil engineering

practice and building construction that cannot be ignored.

Concrete is one of the important activities in construction industry. The plain

cement concrete is the combination of ordinary Portland cement, fine aggregate, coarse

aggregate and water. In this coarse aggregate increases the self-weight of the concrete

to maximum extent while compare to other components of concrete. Now days the cost

of the construction materials is more due to maximum demand in the usage of available

resources and it results in scarcity of materials. So, the study mainly towards the

alternative material for coarse aggregate and produce its self-weight. The light -weight

concrete is preferred by the construction industry to eliminate the unwanted dead load

in the building.

The reason why researcher comes up with this research topic knows the fact that

waste coconut shell is used as main component in preparing light weight concrete. This

usage may also reduce the generated solid waste from the environment simultaneously.

The surface texture of coconut shell is smooth on side and rough on the other side. The

bulk density of coconut shell is found to be 500 kg/ cubic meter, so coconut shell will

produce light-weight concrete of bulk density around 2000 kg/ cubic meter. The usage

of this material may produce the self- weight of structural members, infill in structures.

The usage of waste coconut shell as an aggregate in aa plain cement concrete may

improve mechanical properties, fatigue and pull out resistance of concrete.

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Statement of the Problem

The use of waste material as basic raw material in concrete production may

provide foreseeable solution to the challenge of waste management. However, records

have shown that industrial by products such as sintered pulverized fuel ash formed or

expanded blast -furnace slag and other material of plant origin which are considered as

waste have been used in concrete. These include coconut pitch, rice husk, wheat husk,

groundnut husk and waste coconut shell. Which is referred to as an endocarp that may

useful as aggregate for concrete production. However, the concrete produced using

coconut shell as either main aggregate or substitute partially replacing the normal

aggregates must have necessary engineering performance characteristic (workability,

consistency and compressive strength) to meet the standard code of practice

specifications.

General Problem

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 What is the difference between the comparative analysis of compressive

strength of waste coconut shell blended concrete mix and conventional concrete

mix

samples.

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Specific Problem

This study aims to answer the following questions;

1. How waste coconut shell be used in concrete production?

2. What will be the compressive strength of waste coconut shell that had been

blended with concrete mix?

3. What is there other procedure or process in comparing the compressive strength

of a concrete which is blended with waste coconut shell and the compressive

strength of conventional concrete mix with natural aggregates?

4. How waste coconut shell can be good and economical material as an aggregate

compare to conventional aggregates?

5. If used as an aggregate, could it sustain and improve solution on solid waste

management and the lack in conventional aggregates?

Assumptions

Waste coconut shell can be used in the production of concrete based on the
experimental test that had been conducted. Waste coconut shell that had been blended
with concrete mix has high compressive strength than conventional concrete. There is

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certain processor procedure in comparing the compressive strength of waste coconut
shell and conventional concrete that mix with natural aggregates. There is certain
reason on how could waste coconut shell can be an economical material like
conventional aggregates.

The used of waste coconut shell as an aggregate can sustain and improve the problem
in solid waste management and lack of conventional aggregates.

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Statement of Hypothesis

There is a significant difference in comparative analysis between the compressive

strength of waste coconut shell bended concrete mix and the conventional

concrete mix samples.

Significance of the Study

This study will benefit the following people as it will give them clearer view of

how could waste coconut shell can be a good substitute to conventional aggregate.

The contractors. The company who is the head of a certain project that had

been constructed or being constructed. To legislate laws that may answer problems on

how or uses of agricultural waste such as waste coconut shell that may decrease the

problem in the environment and may lease in to a much lesser price of construction

materials but will not affect the strength and compressive strength of a certain project

that had been constructed or will be constructed.

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 The management of the Department of Public Works and Highway. To

formulate plans, programs and strategies geared towards the improvement and uses of

this kind of agricultural waste as it uses as aggregate in concrete.

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 The academe. To acquire additional reference materials for students pursuing

this kind of studies on how agricultural waste will used as a construction material.

The researcher. To broaden his knowledge on how the use of coconut shell as

a partial aggregate can be used in making a concrete structure. That will may not leave

human life in danger because of environmental problem, thus helping our nation to

become more effective and cleaner environment in the future.

The Filipino people in general. To determine how the uses of waste coconut

shell in conventional concrete changed the mind r perspective that natural composition

of aggregates can only use in construction and building materials. Filipino satisfaction

on how the good effect of will be using this kind of agricultural waste can make

agricultural aggregates available for production in concrete and in construction industry.

Scope and Delimitation

This study examines, test and compare the compressive strength of agricultural

waste like coconut shell be blended with concrete mix as an aggregate and compare it

to conventional concrete that had been blended with natural aggregates. The prospects

of study are about construction materials and testing at the college of Engineering at

the Naga college foundation. Engineering student pursuing the career and dream to

become an engineer in future. The location and place where the experimental study

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analysis is conducted at the engineering hydraulics laboratory located at Naga college

foundation located at Naga City.

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Definition of Terms

For this study, the following terms are defined as follows:

Comparative Analysis. Comparison of two things based on their characteristic. Like

shape, texture, color etc.

Compressive Strength. The strength of a certain structure based the materials

that had been used and strength the capacity and capability of the structure against

uneven disaster like earthquake and typhoon.

Waste Coconut Shell. It is a kind of material comes from the fruit of coconut

sometimes coconut shell is been burned to form a charcoal

Concrete. It is an artificial stone mad out from the mixture of cement, sand, gravel

and water or other inert materials: this is known as a solid mass or plain concrete.

Concrete in which reinforcement is embedded in such a manner that the two materials

act together in resisting forces is called Reinforced concrete (Fajardo, Max 2000.)

Aggregate. It is inert granular materials such as natural sand, manufactured sand,

gravel, crushed gravel, crushed stone, pebbles, vermiculite, perlite, cinders, slag etc.

Aggregates are classified as either fine or coarse that forms into concrete when

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bounded together into a conglomerate mass by a matrix of cement paste (Fajardo, Max

2000.)

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 Fine aggregate. The material such as crushed stone, crushed gravel or natural

gravel with particles retained on a 5mm sieve (Fajardo, Max 2000.)

Coarse aggregate. The material such as crushed stone, crush grave or natural

gravel with particles retained on a 5 mm sieve.

(Fajardo, Max 2000.)

Cement. A soft gray powder that is mixed with mater and other substance to

make a concrete.

Portland Cement. A kind of cement recommended in constructions that

requires an early high strength such as a road concreting or building construction in to

lower temperature. This type of cement is somewhat costly but reaches its strength in 3

to 7 days compared to 7 to 28 days of ordinary Portland cement (Fajardo, Max 2000.)

Pozzolan Cement. Another type of cement that is common used in construction and

less price than Portland cement.

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 Sieve Analysis. A method or process where particle is separated from it original

component or composition.

Notes.

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 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

The literature and studies cited in this chapter tackle the about the compressive

strength of waste coconut shell blended concrete and conventional concrete mix.

Related Literature

According to According to www.elsievier.com/locate /conbuildmat.com and

www.ijsr.net there is a large amount of waste coconut shell in the part of the south

east Asia that had been concluded country of Philippines, Malaysia , India and

Indonesia as shell had been generated in the country of Indonesia from their temples

and industries of coconut product and its disposal need to be addressed. Researchers

have proposed to utilize it as an ingredient of concrete. This experimental investigation

was aimed to quantify the effects of replacing partially the conventional coarse

aggregate by coconut shell to produce concrete. The research work was divided into

two parts. first part was to aim to observe the effect of such replacement on

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compressive strength and density of concrete. While in the second part the aims were

to find out the additional quantity of cement required to compensate for reduction in

strength of concrete resulted due to this replacement.

The primary concern on the growing depletion of the resources and global

pollution that challenged many engineers to seek and develop new materials relying on

the renewable resources (Teo et.al, 2006). This include the use of by-products and

waste materials in building construction. In developing countries like Philippines where

abundant of agricultural and industrial wastes are discharged, these wastes can be used

as a potential material or replacement material in the construction industry. This include

the use of by-products and waste materials in building construction. In developing

countries like Philippines where abundant of agricultural and industrial wastes are

discharged, these wastes can be used as a potential material or replacement material in

the construction industry.

www.worldscientificnews.com as a tropical country, Philippines are one of the

world’s largest producers of coconut products such as coconut oil, copra (dried coconut)

and desiccated coconut. Historically southern tagalog, bicol regions of Luzon and

Eastern Visayas were the centers of coconut productions of land with coconut trees and

its population was at least partly dependent on it for the livelihood yet, a large amount

of agricultural waste was disposed of poor management of disposing of may lead to a

social economic problem.

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 Recycling of the disposed of material is one method of treating the agricultural

waste. The use of waste coconut shell could be a valuable substitute in the formation of

composite material that can be used as a building material in any construction, such as

concrete, concrete hollow blocks etc.

www.apnjournal.com waste coconut shell is used as a main component in

preparing a light weight concrete. This usage may also reduce the generated solid

waste from the environment simultaneously. The surface texture of coconut shell is

smooth on side and rough on the other side. Waste coconut material such a coconut

shell is collected freshly from the oil mill, these shells are crushed into small pieces

approximately around 10-15mm size and thickness of the shell will be maximum of

around 8- 10mm.This replacement help to prepare a light weight aggregate and satisfy

the environmental needs by replacing the solid waste materials. Coconut shell is having

a high-water absorption characteristic while compare to normal coarse aggregate had

least water absorption.

www.ijraset.com coconut shells is one of the most important natural fillers

produced in tropical countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Sri lanka. Many

works have been devoted to use of other natural composite in the past years and

coconut shell is a potential candidate for the development of new composite because of

high strength and modulus properties along with the added advantage of high in lignin

content. The high lignin content makes the composite made concrete with the used of

waste coconut shell with more weather resistant and hence more suitable for

application as construction materials. Coconut shell is also extensively used to make

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products like furnishing materials, rope etc. The shell also absorbs less moisture due to

its low cellulose content, exceptional properties, specific gravity of 1.2 which is about

twice the density of hardwood and rich in energy. Hardness of the coconut shell is

comparable to lower strength aluminum alloys, making it one of the hardest organic

materials produced in nature.

Related Studies

To acquire broader outlook about the comparative analysis of the compressive strength

of waste coconut shell blended concrete mix and the conventional concrete mix

samples. The researcher cites in this portion studies that include not only the process

but also samples on how waste coconut shell may be used in concrete as a coarse

aggregate. Among those reviewed are foreign studies conducted by Gambhir (2008),

Payam et.al (2010), Faisal et. al (2011), Sukarton et. al (2011), Gimba et. al (2008),

Imoisilli et. al (2012), Olontser et. al (2010), Shinghapura et. al (2012), Sakar et. al

(2011), Oyelade (2011),

Gambhir (2008) the forms of waste material are wide varied and used. They can

be used as a binder material and as a partial replacement for conventional concrete. By

(Tay 2010) and (Torres et. Al, 2010) waste material are generated from the industrial

and agricultural activities that can be recycled into new building materials, because they

reduce carbon dioxide emission and less energy consumption in processing or they can

be used directly as aggregate in their natural or processed states.

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 Payam et.al (2010) observed that to build environmentally sustainable structures,

especially in developing countries, the possibility of using some agricultural wastes and

industrial by-products form the different industries as construction materials will be

highly desirable and has several practical and economic advantages. Waste material

that had been exploited mentions that because of this great demand for nurses,

accompanied from the agricultural sources lead to sustainable building material in the

construction industry. Which help in preserving the natural resources and helps

maintain ecological balance.

Gambhir (2008) classified waste material into three categories. Organic waste

(agro waste), inorganic waste (urban waste) and industrial waste. Organic waste or

agro waste are material from the agricultural origin this includes plant origin, namely

wood saw dust, coconut pitch, palm kernel shell, rice husk wheat husk groundnut husk,

plant fibre and coconut shell. It must be appreciated that development of concrete

using coconut shell as a aggregates is still in early stages states and published data are

limited. Gambhir (2008) suggested that before using organic waste on a large scale as

constitute in concrete, careful investigations regarding their properties and durability

need to be carried out.

Faisal et. al (2011) researched on the “effect of maleic anhydride polypropylene

on the properties of coconut shell filled thermoplastic elastomeric olefin composites”.

They described waste coconut shell as an agricultural waste material which has high

natural liqno cellulosic content. This they said provides a potential resource as a

reinforcement agent in thermoplastic olafin. The effect of coconut shell loading and

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maleic anhydride poly propylene as a compatibilizer on mechanical properties,

morphology and thermal properties were studied and the results show that the

increases of coconut shell loading have increased the tensile strength, elongation at

break and young modulus of thermoplastic elastomeric olafin or the composite of

coconut shell.

Sukarton et. al (2011) reported the incorporation of coconut shell in Bio char as a

way of overcoming soil fertility problems. They describe Bio char as a carbon rich

product obtained when organic biomass is heated under limited or without oxygen

condition. Bio char produced from coconut shell had a higher carbon with typically less

ash and it contains mineral nutrients compound compare with bio char produced from

cattle dung.

Gimba et. al (2008) worked on the “optimum conditions for carbonization of

coconut shell”. Carbonization is the production of charred carbon from a source

material. The process is generally accomplished by heating the source material usually

in the absence of limited amount of air to a temperature sufficiently enough to dry and

volatilize substances in the carbonaceous material. Coconut shell contains about 65-

75% of volatile matter and moisture which are removed largely during the carbonization

process. This study addressed determination of yield, rate of weight loss, optimum

temperature as determination of ash and moisture content of the carbonized carbon

and suitable resident time for carbonization. The result shows a maximum of 27% of

carbonized product. The characteristic particle size of 500mm, carbonization

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temperature of 500-600 degree Celsius at resident time of five minutes were the

optimum production condition.

Imoisilli et. al (2012) investigated the “Effect of concentration of coconut shell

ash on the tensile properties of Epoxy composites”. Having experimented with five filler

concentration (5-25% by weight) the test report shows that the tensile strength, elastic

modulus and micro hardness of the composite increase with the increase in filler

concentration, while percentage elongation and load at break decreases with increase in

filler concentration. He concluded that coconut shell used in reinforcing filler in epoxy

composites.

Olontser et. al (2010) also researched on the pyrolysis of coconut shell for the

manufacturer of carbon sorbents. They described pyrolysis as the currently work

able methods for the thermal processing of organic fuels. The yield and the

character of the resorting pyrolysis products depend on the molecular structure of the

organic matter, the degree of metamorphism, the rate of heating, the removal of

volatile substances and the intensity and time of thermal action. He concluded that it is

reasonable to perform the pyrolysis of coconut shells without preliminary crushing.

Shinghapura et. al (2012) carried out an investigation on the “compressive

strength of masonry blocks manufactured using crushed coconut shells. Solid masonry

blocks having a 360mm x 100m x 70 mm were casted with mixed proportion of 1:5

cement, sand ratios. Coconut shell were crushed, sieve and added to the mixture in

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different proportions to determine its optimum percentage utilization. The blocks were

experimented for 7, 14, and 28-day compressive strength of crushed coconut shell

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based sand cement blocks with 20%, 25%,30% (volume basis of crushed shell was

experimented to determine if crushed coconut shell aggregate can be used as full

replacement of coarse aggregates and its optimum percentage. It was reported that the

structural performance of crushed coconut shell-based sand cement blocks was

compared with some percentage of coarse aggregate sand cement blocks.

Sakar et. al (2011) examined “the behavior of reinforced concrete beams with

coconut shell as a coarse aggregate”. The experiments were conducted on a loading

frame capacity of 400KN. The beams were tested as a simply supported beam with a

clear span of 2500mm and it is subjected to two points loading. It was reported that

the specimen with 25% coconut shell aggregate shows initial crack at 25kN loading

while the control specimen shows an initial crack at 35KN loading. The 50% and 75%

coconut shell replacement show initial cracks at 30KN and 35KN loading respectively.

Oyelade (2011) investigated coconut husk ash a partial replacement of cement in

concrete bock production. The coconut hu ash replaced 0% to 30% levels using mix

ratio 1:8 and specimen were tested at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. He reported 2.1 N/mm

maximum compressive strength at 5% replacement at 28 days. The compressive

strength of the ordinary Portland cement and coconut husk ash sand Crete blocks

generally decreases as the percentage of coconut husk content is increases. The

maximum 2.10 KN/mm replacement level was found suitable because it is slightly

higher than the values specified in the national building code (2006) for loaded bearing

walls.

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 The study made to explore the use of waste coconut shells as a aggregate and

compare the strength of a aggregate such as coconut shell to a conventional concrete,

that formed by the used of natural aggregates. The performance and the effectiveness

of waste coconut shell aggregates in concrete in terms of physical properties like color,

texture, size, density and mechanical properties like compressive strength, ,modulus of

elasticity, absorption, thermal conductivity and fire resistance to obtain technical

specification of concrete. Preparation of technical specifications is essential that a

engineer should posses a comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the qualities and

characteristics of the various materials to be used and the practical limit to which the

quantities necessary for the work in question should be restricted.

Olugbenga et.al (2010) also investigated the “Potential’s of coconut shell and

husk hash on the geotechnical properties of lateric soil for road works”. Soil samples

were collected from three barrows pits meant for road construction works, preliminary

tests were performed on them for identification and classification purposes. Engineering

properties tests such as compaction, California bearing ratio (CBR) and triaxial were

done on both the stabilized and unstabilized states with the additions of 2, 4, 6, and 8%

coconut shell and husk ash contents. The results show that the engineering properties

of the samples were further improved with the addition of 4% coconut shell husk ash

contents. The investigation revealed that there was a reduction in the plasticity index of

the samples A and C from 20.43 to 16.74% and 29.51 to 15.67% respectively and

reduction at 2% of C8HA in sample B. the maximum mixture dry density and shear

strengths at 4% CSHA stabilization.

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 Okenyi (2004) worked on the use of Coconut shell fibers in Cement/Concrete

composites. Coir is position beneath the outer covering of the fruit and envelops the

kernel or coconut shell. Coir is obtained from the husk or mesocarp, which is removed

in the preparation of copra. The husk are broken by hand or by the use of a bursting

machine. The extraction of the fibres involves retting at the edges and also in the pits

or in modern operations in concrete tanks. The retted husks are beaten with sticks to

remove extraneous matter and the dried fibre is suitable for spinning. Rougher fibre

require less retting and the fibres are extracted from the husks mechanically. In his

findings coconut husk fiber has an average length of 103mm, average diameter of

0.029mm and relative density of 0.9 as shown in Appendix I (a). He also observed that

the composite plates produced shows that flexural and tensile strength of concrete can

be improved by twice of its value when reinforced with coconut shell fiber as indicated

in Appendix I (b). And the impact resistance of the composite plates improves with the

coconut husk fibre as shown in Appendix I (c). He concluded that coconut fiber is a

suitable vegetable fiber for the reinforcement of concrete for various concrete uses like

roofing tiles, reinforcement in structural members in kerbs and chutes and underground

concrete pipes for water distribution. He recommended that:

1. Coconut shell fiber is a suitable vegetable fiber for the reinforcement of

concrete for various concrete uses like roofing tiles, and as

reinforcement in structural members and in kerbs and chutes,

underground concrete pipes for water distribution and many other

concrete uses.

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2. The 1:3 mix ratio (cement-sand) is noticeably better when reinforced with

coconut shell fibres than the 1:4 mix as used in concrete roofing tiles

probably due to its richer cement composition which fills the voids

making it less permeable to water and other liquids.

3. The impact resistance of concrete improved when reinforced with coconut

shell fibres, and therefore the fear of damage when it is being handled

is reduced.

4. Plain concrete being a brittle material with low tensile strength and strain

can have these properties of low tensile strength and strain improved

by the coconut reinforcement for use as underground pipes for water

distribution which carry loads from soil and internal pressure from the

water being carried.

5. The strength of the plates increases with time.

6. Coconut fiber reinforced concrete improves the tensile strength of

concrete helping concrete to withstand tensile stress in concrete

members, which may occur due to restraint to contraction due to

drying or temperature variation.

7. Coconut fibre reinforced concrete can be used in road pavements and run

ways.

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Another agricultural waste which is being used in concrete is palm kernel shell which is

a by-product from the processing of palm fruits. They are derived from the oil palm tree

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(elaeis guineensis). It is an economically valuable tree and native to Western Africa and

wide spread through the tropics.

Basri et. al, (1999) described palm kernel shell as hard in nature and does not

deteriorate easily once bound in concrete and therefore it does not contaminate or

leach to produce toxic substances.

Peter (2008) also investigated the performance of palm kernel shell as a partial

replacement of coarse aggregate in asphalt concrete. He observed that palm kernel

shell can be used to replace coarse aggregate up to 30% before drastic reduction in

strength becomes noticeable. He therefore recommended that for heavily trafficked

roads, palm kernel shells up to 10% can be used for the replacement while even 100%

replacement is possible for lightly trafficked roads in rural settings. He presented the

physical properties of palm kernel shell and concluded that:

1. Palm kernel shell serve as a partial replacement of coarse aggregates up to

10% for trafficked roads and 5% for light trafficked roads.

2. For the very lightly trafficked roads in the rural communities’ palm kernel

shells can be used ass full replacement for the coarse aggregates. This will

go long way into reducing construction maintenance costs of these needs.

3. Economic power of rural dwellers will be enhanced, if they are encouraged

to plant palm trees from where these shells could be gotten.

Coconut shell

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 Coconut shell is one of the by products from the processing of coconut, it is organic

in nature and similar to hard woods in chemical composition though lining content is

higher and cellulose content is lower (www.reade.com). The shell composition shown in

the table.

COCONUT SHELL COMPOUND

(Dry basis)

COMPOUND PERCENT

CELLULOSE 33.61

LIGNIN 36.51

PENTOSANS 29.27

ASH 0.61

Conceptual Framework

Independent Variable

Based

Concrete Waste coconut shell

mixtures.

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