Investigation on the surface hardness and durability-related properties of concrete containing coconut shell as partial substitute to coarse aggregates
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Published:2023-10-24
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ISSN:1708-5284
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Container-title:World Journal of Engineering
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language:en
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Short-container-title:WJE
Author:
Benito Emel Ken D.,Aragoncillo Ariel Miguel M.,Morales Kylyn A.,Revilleza Dalisa Mars L.,Catindig Laurence V.,Madlangbayan Marish S.
Abstract
Purpose
Using coconut shell aggregates (CSA) in concrete benefits agricultural waste management and reduces the demand for mineral resources. Several studies have found that concrete containing CSA can achieve strengths that are comparable to regular concrete. The purpose of the present work is to evaluate the concrete’s durability-related properties to supplement these earlier findings.
Design/methodology/approach
Cylindrical specimens were prepared with a constant water–cement ratio of 0.50 and CSA content ranging from 0% to 50% (at 10% increment) by volume of the total coarse aggregates. The specimens were cured for 28 days and then tested for density, surface hardness, electrical resistivity and water sorptivity. The surface hardness was measured to describe the concrete resistance to surface wearing, while the resistivity and sorptivity were evaluated to describe the material’s resistance to fluid penetration.
Findings
The results showed that the surface hardness of concrete remained on average at 325 Leeb and did not change significantly with CSA addition. The distribution of surface hardness was also similar across all CSA groups, with the interquartile range averaging 59 Leeb. These results suggest that the cement paste and gravel stiffness had a more pronounced influence on the surface hardness than CSA. On the other hand, concrete became lighter by about 9%, had lower resistivity by 80% and had significantly higher initial sorptivity by up to 110%, when 50% of its natural gravel was replaced with CSA. Future work may be done to improve the durability of CSA when used as coarse aggregate.
Originality/value
The present study is the first to show the lack of correlation between CSA content and surface hardness. It would mean that the surface hardness test may not completely capture the porous nature of CSA-added concrete. The paper concludes that without additional treatment prior to mixing, CSA may be limited only to applications where concrete is not in constant contact with water or deleterious substances.
Subject
Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Mechanical Engineering,Mechanics of Materials,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology,Civil and Structural Engineering
Reference46 articles.
1. Coconut shell as partial replacement of coarse aggregate in concrete;IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering,2014