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Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Cement has been used for several years in the construction industry as one of the

main constituents of concrete. It is known for its great bonding properties including

cohesiveness and adhesiveness that binds the aggregates together in a concrete mix.

Considering the fact that cement is an excellent construction material, it has also a slightly

high price in the market as compared to other construction material. Through the years,

researchers tried to find as alternative partial replacement for cement that will give the

same or even greater cement properties and will have an economical cost.

The materials being sought for this research are the coconut shell coconut husk.

These materials are treated as agricultural waste in different countries in the world but have

been studied to have cementitious properties present within these two materials. Large

amount of different agricultural waste including coconut shells and coconut husk are

disposed on different countries like Philippines, India, Malaysia and other tropical nations.

Lack of proper disposal of these wastes can lead to different environmental problem issues.

This is one of the reasons of the researches to perform this study.

As the second country in the world producing the most number of coconut husk

and coconut shells, the Philippines is also a country that has treated these materials as

agricultural wastes. Producing almost 15,862,386 tons of these materials per year, 26.4%

of the world total, the Philippines has a good stock when it comes to collecting coconut
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shell and coconut husk as used in cement. Using these two as a partial replacement in

cement will not only lessen the amount of agricultural wastes in the country but it will also

help to produce economically-effective and environment-friendly concrete structures.

Using coconut shell ash and coconut husk ash as partial replacement for cement

will help to gain knowledge and data on the performance of concrete structures with

coconut shell ash and husk ash. This study will also be performed to know the results of

their right proportions of coconut shell and husk ash when used in cement.

Background of the study

In recent years, researchers tried to find a material, organic or inorganic, that could

be a possible partial replacement for cement. A reason behind this activity is the economic

cost and the environmental issue of using hydraulic cement in the construction industry.

The slightly high cost of cement as compared to other construction material and the heat

absorbed by structures made up of cement or concrete are the factors that triggers different

researchers to find an alternative partial replacement for cement.

Finding past research studies related to the proposed study will help the researchers

in gaining knowledge about the concept of adding Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk

Ash to cement. It will also help the researchers in conceptualizing the idea of producing

concrete samples with varying amounts of Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as

partial replacement.

A study from India conducted by a group of students from a university is one of the

related studies connected to this research study. The study is about the use of Coconut Shell
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Ash as partial replacement for cement. This study concluded that Coconut Shell Ash could

be a partial replacement for cement but for a specific percentage of cement per mix only.

This past study they help the researchers for gathering knowledge and additional

information in creating the proposed study. It will served as a guide to the researchers on

how to produce cement with Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as partial

replacement in finding the correct proportions of these materials for better results of

experimentation.

Except for Coconut Shell, another type of agricultural waste present/available is the

Coconut Husk. This material is considered as an agricultural waste in the industry and has

been studied to contain cementitious properties when burned at a high temperature. This

material has a slightly different properties compared to coconut shell. This research study

will focus on the combination of the two materials, coconut shell ash and coconut husk ash,

and its effect on cement as an alternative partial replacement.

Objectives of the study

This research study will be used to know the effects on the physical properties and

compressive strength of concrete of Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as partial

replacement for cement. The following specific objectives will be addressed:

1. Identify the properties of Coconut Shell Ash.

2. Identify the properties of Coconut Husk Ash.

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3. Determine the compressive strength of concrete samples with Coconut Shell

Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as partial replacement for cement with different

proportions by mass.

4. Determine the differences between the concrete samples with varying amounts

of CSA and CHA in terms of compressive strength.

Statement of the problem

The primary objective of this study is to determine the effects of Coconut Shell Ash

and Coconut Husk Ash as partial replacement for cement on concrete. Specifically, it will

answer the following questions:

1. What are the physical properties of Coconut Shell Ash in terms of:

a. Fineness

b. Soundness

c. Loss on ignition

2. What are the physical properties of Coconut Husk Ash in terms of:

a. Fineness

b. Soundness

c. Loss on ignition

3. What are the compressive strengths of concrete samples with Coconut Shell

Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as partial replacement for cement with the

following proportion by mass:

a. 5% CSA, 5% CHA, 90% cement

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b. 10% CSA, 5% CHA, 85% cement

c. 5% CSA, 10% CHA, 85% cement

d. 10% CSA, 10% CHA, 90% cement

4. What are the difference between the concrete samples with varying amount

of CSA and CHA in terms of compressive strength?

Hypothesis of the study

Alternative Hypothesis

There is a significant difference between the compressive strengths of concrete

samples with varying amounts of Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as partial

replacement for cement.

Null Hypothesis

There is no significant difference between the compressive strengths of concrete

samples with varying amounts of Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as partial

replacement for cement.

Significance of the study

The results of the study on the use of Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as

partial replacement for cement can be an advantage and imperative particularly to the

following:
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Farmers. The present study can contribute in minimizing the quantity of

agricultural wastes specifically Coconut Shell and Coconut Husk.

Future researchers. This study will contribute in giving new knowledge and data

for future investigators and researchers who will gather the same the same or similar

information on the effects of Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as partial

replacement for cement.

Scope and limitation

The study is focus on finding the effects on the physical properties and compressive

strengths of concrete samples with Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as partial

replacement for cement. It consists of identifying the properties of the materials and

determining the correct proportions of Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash for

higher strength of concrete. The use of concrete with Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk

Ash as partial replacement for cement is limited on the use for actual field construction.

The Coconut Shell and Coconut Husk will be gathered from San Lorenzo Ruiz,

Camarines Norte. Ordinary Portland cement, fine aggregates, and coarse aggregates having

a nominal maximum size of 3/8 inches will be used. The making of concrete samples in

the form of cylindrical molds will be conducted at Daet, Camarines Norte and will be tested

using the appropriate machinery. This study is limited with using materials and equipment

that is readily available from the market.

After testing for the compressive strengths and physical properties of each sample,

the results will be analysed using different methods to produce a conclusion and answers
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the questions on the effects of Coconut Shell Ash and Coconut Husk Ash as partial

replacement for cement.

Definition of terms

For the purpose of this study, the following terminologies are defined:

Coconut Shell Ash (CSA). It is obtained from Coconut Shell that is heated at a high

temperature to achieve its physical properties as ash and its cementitious properties as

cement-like material.

Coconut Husk Ash (CHA). It is obtained from Coconut Husk that is heated at a high

temperature to achieve its physical properties as ash and its cementitious properties as

cement-like material.

Concrete. It is a solid structure or object obtained from the combination of cement, water,

aggregates, and other admixtures.

Fineness. It pertains to physical property of a material considering its particle size and

texture
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Reference

1
Coconut Shell Ash as Partial Replacement of Ordinary Portland cement In Concrete

Production. (2012). Retrieved from

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.ijstr.org/fi

nal-print/sep2012/Coconut-Shell-Ash-As-Partial-Replacement-of-Ordinary-

Portland-Cement-In-Concrete-Production.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi-

guOlv6vgAhXbF4gKHTGkD1sQFjAAegQICBAB&usg=AOvVaw1Yq3qiljOcR

H0F1TK0iBje

2
Lalit Kumar et al., (February 2017). Use of Coconut Shell Ash as Aggregates.[PDF

file].Retrievedfrom:https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=ht

tp://www.indusedu.org/pdfs/IJRESS/IJRESS_1059_77217.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiF

ydn8v6vgAhVCQd4KHVU5AAoQFjABegQIDhAE&usg=AOvVaw2SuwrUp6eh

EIWWS3bEwIR9