THE USE OF COCONUT SHELL AS REINFORCEMENT IN CONCRETE
Usman Ahmadu1, Abubakar M. Ahmadu2 & Jimoh Abubakar3
Department of Civil Engineering,
Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria
Email: abuamirwayasmin@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This research presents the results of an investigation carried out on the compressive strength characteristics of concrete produced with the mix ratio (1:2:4) and a total of 24cubes of sizes 100mm x 100mm were cast and their physical properties determined. Result of the test show that the compressive strength of the concrete decreased as the percentage of the shells increased in the mix ratio given. However, concrete obtained from coconut shells exhibited a higher compressive strength than that without coconut shells. 11.3N/mm2 to 10.7N/mm2 was obtained for 7days curing of coconut shell in mix concrete of 10% to20% respectively as compared to 10.16N/mm2 of 7days curing control test concrete. For 28days curing, 24.4N/mm2 to 20.6N/mm2 was obtained on coconut shells concrete mix of 10% to20% as compared to 21.5N/mm2 of control test of concrete grade 20N/mm2 with Dangote cement. For concrete density both control test and coconut shell mixed concrete were adequately the same in the range of 2400kg/m3 to 2500kg/m3.