Properties of Concrete with Coconut Shells as Aggregate Replacement

Abstract

Properties of concrete with coconut shells (CS) as aggregate replacement were studied. Control concrete with normal aggregate and CS concrete with 10 - 20% coarse aggregate replacement with CS were made. Two mixes with CS and fly ash were also made to investigate fly ash effect on CS replaced concretes. Constant water to cementitious ratio of 0.6 was maintained for all the concretes. Properties like compressive strength, split tensile strength, water absorption and moisture migration were investigated in the laboratory. The results showed that, density of the concretes decreases with increase in CS percent. Workability decreased with increase in CS replacement. Compressive and split tensile strengths of CS concretes were lower than control concrete. Permeable voids, absorption and sorption were higher for CS replaced concretes than control concrete. Coarse aggregate replacement with equivalent weight of fly ash had no influence when compared with properties of corresponding CS replaced concrete.