Performance Study of Fresh and Hardened Properties of Palm kernel Shell –Rice Husk Ash Aggregate Concrete
1Oyejobi, D. O., 2Raji, S. A. and 3Jimoh, A. A.
1,2,3 Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Corresponding E-mail: oyejobi.do@unilorin.edu.ng
DOI: 10.36108/laujoces/9102/20(0150)
Abstract
This study produced light-weight aggregate concrete by replacing conventional dense aggregates of granite with palm kernel shells and sand with pozzolanic rice husk ash. Apart from cost reduction in the cubic metre of the concrete, the overall dead load was reduced; natural resources were preserved as wastes were re-used in a beneficiary manner. The levels of replacement were from 10 to 100% for both coarse and fine aggregates for thirteen different mix proportions. A unique mix-proportion based on the material properties of these non-conventional materials was designed with a water-cement ratio of 0.38. This was followed with the study of behaviour of this mixture for its fresh and hardened properties and the result was compared with the conventional aggregates. With the range of 10 to 100% replacement, compressive strength values fell between 14.31 and 26.14 MPa. The Splitting tensile strength was found to be between 14 and 16% of the compressive strength and the oven-dried density decreased with the increase in the quantities of rice husk ash and palm kernel shells respectively with the range between 1414 to 2302 kg/m3. This class of concrete could be adopted for both plain and reinforced concrete with light-weight aggregate.
Keywords: light-weight concrete, palm kernel shells, rice husk ash, compressive strength, splitting strength