The Official Journal of Engineering Research

Crushed Coconut Shell as Concrete

Mixture Additive
Marjorie Ann R. Kho, Aira May A. Landero,
Taliza Shanane A. Suzara
and Ruben M. Ruiz

Abstract

Coconut shells are mostly used as ornaments and as sources of

activated carbon in industries of plastics, glues and abrasive materials.
They are produced in large quantities; thus, these are the wastes most
commonly found in landfills. This situation poses a great threat to the
environment because landfills contribute to global warming by emitting
harmful gases like carbon dioxide and methane. The growing problem
in waste prompted the researchers to use coconut shell as additives in
concrete mixture, and to determine whether it significantly increases
the flexural and compressive strength of concrete. This study used
experimental design to determine the effectiveness of adding crushed
coconut shell as additives in concrete mixture. The t-test analysis
revealed that the flexural and compressive strength of concrete with
crushed coconut shell was significantly higher than the flexural and
compressive strength of concrete without crushed coconut shell. These
findings mean that the addition of crushed coconut shell increases the
flexural and compressive strength of concrete.

Keywords: Engineering, crushed coconut shell, concrete mixture,

concrete, additives, experimental design, Philippines

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Introduction

The high demand for concrete in construction using normal

weight aggregates such as gravel and granite drastically reduces the
natural stone deposits and this has damaged the environment; thereby
causing ecological imbalance (Short & Kinniburgh, 1978). On the
other hand, the high cost of conventional building materials is a major
factor affecting housing delivery in the world. These scenarios have
necessitated the conduct of research studies involving alternative
materials of construction.

The coconut shell is mostly used as an ornament and as a source

of activated carbon in the industries of plastics, glues and abrasive
materials. In the case of using it as additive in the concrete mixture
in this particular study, the compressive, flexural strength and bond
strength were measured and compared with the theoretical values
as recommended by the standard. The study of the effectiveness of
coconut shell for such purpose does not only provide new material
for construction but also help in the preservation of the environment.
Likewise, this option can surely contribute to the economy by providing
new use for the coconut shell.

This paper presents the versatility of coconut fibres and their

applications in different branches of engineering, particularly as a
construction material in civil engineering.

This study focused on crushed coconut shells as additives in

concretes. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. Is there a significant difference between the compressive

strength of concrete mixture with and without crushed coconut
shell?

2. Is there a significant difference between the flexural strength

of concrete mixture with and without crushed coconut shell?

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3. Is there a significant difference between the absorption capacity

of concrete mixture with and without crushed coconut shell?

Conceptual Framework

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

1. Compressive
Concrete Strength
2. Flexural
Concrete with Crushed Strength
Coconut Shell 3. Absorption
Capacity

Figure 1. The Conceptual Framework of the Study

Figure 1 shows the conceptual framework of this study. The

normal concrete and concrete with crushed coconut shell serve as
the independent variables and the compressive, flexural strength and
absorption capacity of concrete and concrete with crushed coconut shell
as the dependent variables.

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Method

Experimental research design was used in this study to determine

the effectiveness of crushed coconut shell as additives in concrete
mixture. This approach involves the manipulation of one variable to
see if there is any change in the other variable.

The study was done and completed at the Civil Engineering

Laboratory of the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC).

The researchers asked permission from the Dean of the Engineering

Program and the Laboratory-in-Charge to allow them to use the
equipment and apparatus required for this investigation.

The researchers gathered all the materials and prepared the

equipment needed for experiment. These included Portland cement,
crushed coconut shell, crushed coarse aggregates, fine aggregates,
concrete moulder, shovel, pails, trowels, water, slump cone for the
slump cone test, 6” x 6” x 24” rectangular mould and a 6” diameter
x 12” cylindrical mould. The mould was coated with oil to achieve
a minimum water absorption capacity and facilitate easy removal of
the concrete. Sets of equipment were cleaned to avoid unnecessary
substances in the mixture. The researchers weighed the required
amount of crushed coconut shell, cement, fine aggregates and crushed
coarse aggregates and measured the amount of water needed. Then,
they took representative sample aggregates and washed them to be
freed from silt and clay; after which, they dried these samples. The
researchers implemented 25 strokes for each layer with a tamping rod.
The strokes were uniformly distributed over the cross-section of each
layer by using approximately half the stroke near the perimeter (outer
edge) and progressing spirally towards the middle. After the top layer
has been done, they struck off the surface of the concrete by means
of screening and rolling motion of the tampering rod. The researchers
placed the meter stick horizontally across the inverted mould so that
it could extend over the slumped concrete. Then, they immediately
measured the distance from the bottom of the meter stick to the original

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middle portion of the surface of the specimen. In the case of a falling

away or shearing off of concrete from one side or portion of the mass,
the researchers would disregard such case and would make a new test
on another portion of the sample. Then, they recorded the slump test
data in inches (mm) to the nearest ¼ inches (6 mm) of subsidence of
the specimen during the test.

The researchers placed the concrete mixture into a circular and

rectangular (6” x 6” x 24”) mould using a scoop or a trowel. They filled
the mould in three equal layers and rod each layer 25 times uniformly.
After each layer is rodded, they struck off the top and made sure to
achieve a smooth surface using the tamping rod. Then, they covered the
mould with plastic and sealed it properly to avoid evaporation. Then,
they removed the moulds after 24 hours and cured the samples for 28
days.

On the 21st day of curing, the absorption capacity of concrete was

tested by weighing the concrete samples; thus, the researchers sun-dried
them, immersed them in water for five minutes, and weighed them to
collect pertinent data for computation. The testing of samples was done
on the 28th day where the compressive strength, flexural strength and
absorption capacity were determined. The data gathered were subjected
to statistical treatments such as mean, standard deviation, and t-test
analysis. All interpretations were made at a level of significance equal
to 0.05.

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Results and Discussions

Table 1. Significant Difference in the Compressive Strength

between Concrete Sample with 15% Crushed Coconut
Shell and that without Crushed Coconut Shell

Mean Compressive Mean Compressive

Strength of Strength of
Mixture Concrete Sample Mean Computed
Concrete Sample t-value Decision
without Crushed with 15% Crushed Difference
Coconut Shell Coconut Shell

Reject
1:2:4 791.65 901.64 109.99 5.00
Ho

Table 1 data reveal that there is a significant difference between

the concrete samples in favor of the concrete sample with 15% crushed
coconut shell (tcomputed 5.00 > tcritical 2.00). This finding shows
that the compressive strength of the concrete increased when the
crushed coconut shell is added in the mix sample. The impact resistance
of coconut shell concrete is high when compared with conventional
concrete.

Table 2. Significant Difference in the Compressive Strength

between Concrete Sample with 30% Crushed Coconut
Shell and that without Crushed Coconut Shell

Mean Compressive Mean Compressive

Strength of Strength of
Mixture Concrete Sample Mean Computed
Concrete Sample t-value Decision
without Crushed with 30% Crushed Difference
Coconut Shell Coconut Shell

Reject
1:2:4 791.65 1910.09 1118.44 6.90
Ho

Table 2 data reveal that there is a significant difference in the

compressive strength between the concrete samples in favor of concrete

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sample with 30% crushed coconut shell (tcomputed 6.90 > tcritical
2.00). With reference also to the data from Table 1, this result shows
that the compressive strength of the concrete increases when the
crushed coconut shell is added in the mix sample. Further, this finding
shows that the more crushed coconut shell is added in the mixture,
the stronger the concrete becomes. The impact resistance of concrete
with coconut shell additive is high when compared with conventional
concrete because the coconut shell produces a “paste” like ingredient
that strengthens the cement leading to the increased bond within the
concrete.

Table 3. Significant Difference in the Flexural Strength

of Concrete with 15% Crushed Coconut Shell and
that without Crushed Coconut Shell

Mean Flexural Mean

Strength of Flexural Strength of
Mixture Concrete Sample Mean Computed
Concrete Sample t-value Decision
without Crushed with 15% Crushed Difference
Coconut Shell Coconut Shell

Reject
1:2:4 274.77 426.30 151.53 2.70
Ho

Table 3 data reveal that there is a significant difference in flexural

strength between the concrete samples in favor of the concrete with 15%
crushed coconut shell (tcomputed 2.70 > tcritical 2.00). This finding
shows that the flexural strength of the concrete increases when the
crushed coconut shell is added in the mix sample. Coconut shell may
offer itself as a coarse aggregate making it as a potential construction
material in the field of construction industries. The result indicates
that the use of coconut shell as an added component in the mix can
contribute to the solution for environmental problem specifically on
the reduction of the generation of solid wastes. Concrete with coconut
shell has better workability because of the smooth surface on one side
of the shells, which at the same time produce a “paste” like component
that acts similarly to cement increasing the bond within the concrete.

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Table 4. Significant Difference in the Flexural Strength

of Concrete with 30% Crushed Coconut Shell and
without Crushed Coconut Shell

Mean Flexural Mean Flexural

Strength of Strength of
Mixture Concrete Sample Mean Computed
Concrete Sample t-value Decision
without Crushed with 15% Crushed Difference
Coconut Shell Coconut Shell

Reject
1:2:4 274.77 484.59 209.82 3.60
Ho

Table 4 data show that there is a significant difference in the

flexural strength between the concrete samples in favor of those with
30% crushed coconut shell (tcomputed 3.60 > tcritical 2.00). This
result shows that the flexural strength of the concrete increases when
the crushed coconut shell is added in the mix sample. Likewise, as the
amount of the crushed coconut shell increases, the flexural strength of
the concrete samples also increases. This finding implies that coconut
shell carries with it some characteristics which strengthen the concrete
significantly.

Table 5. Significant Difference in the Absorption

Capacity of Concrete with Crushed Coconut Shell
and that without Crushed Coconut Shell

Mean Absorption Mean Absorption

Capacity Difference Capacity Difference
Mixture of Concrete Sample Mean Computed
of Concrete Sample t-value Decision
without Crushed with Crushed Difference
Coconut Shell Coconut Shell

Reject
1:2:4 0.20 0.73 0.53 12.98
Ho

As reflected by data from Table 5, there is a significant difference

in the absorption capacity between the concrete samples with crushed
coconut shell and those without (tcomputed 12.98 > tcritical 2.00).

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In this study, water-cement ratios have been considered because

too much water can affect the strength of the concrete. Thus, the
researchers gradually added water so as not to affect the strength of
the concrete samples. Moisture retaining and water absorbing capacity
of coconut shell are greater compared to conventional aggregate.
Moisture absorption of the shell was also noted because it stood against
absorption of water. The absorption of water in the concrete did not
affect its strength since lesser voids were formed.

Literature Cited

A Review on Utilization of Coconut Shell as Coarse Aggregate.

Retrieved 2012, from www.gmit.edu.com

A Substitute for Aggregates in Mix Proportioning of Cement. Retrieved

2007, from www.featicivil.blogspot.com

Coconut fibre as a Versatile Material by Majid Ali. Retrieved from

www.academicjournals.org

Light Weight Concrete Using Coconut Shell. Retrieved 2008, from

www.scribd.com

Properties of Coconut Shell Powder. Retrieved from www.mofpi.nic.

in

Waste Management. Retrieved 2011, from www.envirocorp.com

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