DefinePK

Abstract

Due to rapid growth of population and industrialization, there is a need for need for tremendous growth in the infrastructure development. This leads to the depletion of natural resources because they are excavated at high rate. In that way natural resources available for construction materials are also being rapidly depleted which hikes the cost of these materials. Hence more focus is essential for finding out the alternative materials for construction. In the present study the focus was made on the coarse aggregates and an attempt was made to replace the conventional coarse aggregates using coconut shells in concrete. A control mix was designed for M 25 grade of concrete and then the crushed granite aggregates were replaced with coconut shells by volume in different levels such as 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. The mechanical properties of concrete such as compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength were determined as per the relevant Indian standards. From the test results it was found that the properties of concrete decreased as the level of replacement of coconut shell aggregates increased. The density of concrete also decreases as the percentage of coconut shell is increased. The test results of this study showed that up to 40% replacement gave better strength. Hence the use of coconut shells up to 40% can be encouraged for field applications that help in protecting the environment, as well as producing the light weight concrete.