DETERMINATION OF THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF PALM KERNEL SHELL CONCRETE

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DETERMINATION OF THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF PALM KERNEL SHELL CONCRETE

ABSTRACT

This study is on the determination of the Compressive Strength of Palm Kernel Shell Concrete. The effect of percentage replacements (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) of crushed granite with palm kernel shell on density and compressive strength of concrete is presented. Concrete cube specimens of mix 1:2:4 were prepared with water-cement ratio of 0.6. The cubes (150mm×150mm×150mm) were cured using water-submerged curing until testing ages of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days when their densities and compressive strengths were determined.The 28day compressive strength ranged from 12.71 to 16.63N/mm², whereas the density ranged between 1562 to 2042 kg/m^3.. A replacement of 25 and 50% of Crushed Granite with palm kernel shell resulted in a cost reduction of 5.69% and 11.37% respectively. Tests conducted include sieve analysis, bulk density, and specific gravity to characterize aggregates. The Specific gravities of Sharp Sand, Crushed Granite and Palm Kernel Shell were found to be 2.5, 2.76 and 1.301 while their bulk densities were 1650, 1545 and 634 kg/m³ respectively. Water absorption capacities of crushed granite in 1 and 24hrs was 6% while palm kernel shell was found to be 11% in 1hr and 21.5% in 24hrs.Compressive strength decreased as well as density with percentage increase in palm kernel shell content. Curing is very important for the strength development of concrete. In general, Crushed Granite could be replaced in concrete with Palm Kernel Shell up to 25%.Palm kernel shell being a lightweight aggregate could be used for structural lightweight concrete production for small load bearing farm structures.Reduced cost of construction arising from the use of locally available agricultural waste materials such as palm kernel shell will reduce pollution associated with the waste disposal and enhance infrastructural development as well.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Previously, Agricultural and Industrial wastes have created waste management and pollution problems. In the effort to put these waste materials in use, a lot of research has been done and still on-going to investigate their properties when employed in the replacement of conventional ingredients in concrete production. In spite of the fact that the use of such replacement materials would contribute to construction cost reduction and proper waste management, they should be readily available.

The main palm oil producing states in Nigeria include Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Cross River, Ekiti, Akwa-Ibom, Delta and Rivers.Palm kennel fibres are derived from oil palm tree (Elaeis guneensis), an economically valuable tree, and native to West Africa and widespread throughout the tropics (Akpe, 1997).Oil palm tree grows to about 9metres in height and characterized with a crown of feathery leaves that are up to 5mm long. Flowering is followed by the development of cluster of egg-shaped red, orange or yellowish fruits, each about 3cm long .Palm kernel shells are hard, carbonaceous, and organic by-products of the processing of the palm oil fruit (Alengaram, et al., 2010). They consist of small, medium, and large sized particles in the range 0-5mm, 5-10mm and 10-15mm respectively .They are organic waste materials obtained from crude palm oil producing factories in Asia and Africa (Alengaram, et al., 2010). According to Okly, (1987), palm kernel shell is made up of 33% charcoal, 45% pyroligneous liquor, and 21% combustible gas. Palm kernel shell is hard in nature and does not deteriorate easily once bound in concrete and therefore, it does not contaminate or leach to produce toxic substances (Basri et al., 1999).

Concrete is defined as an artificial material resulting from a carefully controlled mixture of cement, water, fine and coarse aggregates, which takes the shape of its container or formwork when hardened and forms a solid mass when cured at a suitable temperature and humidity (Alawode et al., 2011).Concrete is brittle and weak in tension but its compressive strength is about 8times greater than the tensile strength (Mosley and Bungey, 2000).

Fine aggregate is generally natural sand and is graded from particles 5mm in size down to the finest particles but excluding dust. Coarse aggregate is natural gravel or crushed stone usually larger than 5mm and usually less than 16mm in ordinary structure (Mohd et al., 2008). Natural aggregate deposits consist of gravel and sand that can be readily used in concrete after minimal processing. Natural gravel and sand are usually dug or dredged from a pit, river, lake, or seabed. Crushed stone is produced by crushing quarry rock, boulders, cobbles, or large-size gravel. According to Alexander et al. (2005), aggregate occupies between 70 to 80 % of the total volume of concrete and is essential in making concrete into an engineering material. They tend to give concrete its volumetric stability; they also have a unanimous influence on reducing moisture related to deformation like shrinkage of concrete. With this large proportion of the concrete being occupied by aggregate, it is expected for aggregate to have an enormous influence on the properties of concrete as well as its general performance.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The increasing cost of construction materials and the environmental degradation caused by the high utilization of aggregates for concrete is a global challenge in civil engineering construction. The high demand and continuous use of crushed granite for concrete in construction will overtime deplete the natural stone deposits and this will affect the environment thereby causing ecological imbalance. Earthquakes have been reported to have occurred as a result of activities relating to continuous production of chippings from natural stone deposits. Similarly, the continuous production of palm kernel shell waste promotes environmental pollution and nuisance with reference to its disposal. Recently, research has been conducted by Alengaram et al (2011, 2013), Shafigh et al (2010, 2011, 2012), and Mahmud (2008, 2010), on palm kernel shell and its concrete. Palm kernel shells are underutilized and are usually abandoned as waste materials or used in a small scale as fuel in furnaces and materials for filling potholes. There is need, therefore, to explore and find suitable replacement material to substitute for the coarse aggregate in the production of light weight concrete.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The aim of this research work is the “Determination of the Compressive Strength of Palm Kernel Shell Concrete”. To achieve this research aim, the specific

objectives of this work is:

To determine the physical properties (Bulk density, Water absorption capacity, Specific gravity and Sieve analysis) of Palm Kernel Shell, Sharp Sand and Crushed granite.

b.To determine the Compressive strength of lightweight concrete containing Palm kernel shell aggregate in percentage replacements.

1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY

Chippings are usually bought at distant quarries and hauled at high cost to various construction sites across the country, thereby increasing the cost of construction projects. The use of palm kernel shell waste in construction shall promote waste management and it will go a long way in the reduction of cost of aggregate. Additionally, the use of palm kernel shell waste as an alternative to conventional aggregates will reduce the size of structural members and this will bring immense change in the development of high rise structures using lightweight concrete.Hence, the frequency of land slide or earthquakes will decrease due to a reduction in the mining of chippings from its natural deposit. Alengaram et al., (2013) reported that Palm kernel shell is one kind of organic aggregate with better impact resistance compared to normal weight aggregate. Additionally, considering that Palm kernel shell is cheap and available in large quantities in Nigeria the engineering properties of cracked Palm kernel shell was chosen to be analyzed so as to ascertain its suitability as a substitute for gravel and crushed granite in the production of concrete for construction. From the various kinds of concrete, lightweight concrete is one of the most interesting subjects for researchers because of its advantages such as the savings on reinforcement, formwork and scaffolding , foundation costs as well as the savings derived from the reduced cost of transport and erection (Shafigh et al, 2010).

1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY

This thesis is focused on experimental tests to determine the compressive strength of concrete using Palm kernel shell as coarse aggregate in concrete. It is also aimed at characterization and determination of the properties of these shell that make them suitable for concrete works in the stead of conventional aggregate and the effects of percentage replacement of this waste material on the strength characteristics of concrete. The study also investigated absorption rates of water on prepared concrete samples for the seepage properties of the concrete made from palm kernel shell.

1.6 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

The Cost of crushing the specimen cubes was high. Additionally, the curing tank used for this research was for the entire students in the department which necessitated the labelling of specimen cubes; in fact, finding and bringing out the cubes from the tank for crushing became a very rigorous task.

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