The Effect of Sawdust and Coconut

Shell as a Substitute for

Fine and Coarse Aggregate in
Compressive Strength of Concrete

BY: JENNIFER M. DAMASCO

ANGELIQUE M. DULATRE
KIM MARC L. LAMIGO
 INTRODUCTION
• What is Concrete?
Concrete is one of the most common construction materials used for buildings and other
structures. It is also a versatile material that can easily be mixed to make a building more
stable.
• What is Sawdust?
Sawdust is a by-product of cutting, grinding, drilling,
sanding, or otherwise pulverizing wood with a saw or
other tool; it is composed of fine particles of wood.

• What is Coconut Shell?

Coconut shell is the strongest part covered in coconut fruit.
It is located in between the coconut flesh and coconut husk.
Aggregates
• Rock like material
• Used in many civil engineering and construction applications including:
> Portland cement concrete
> Asphalt concrete
> Base materials for roads
> Ballast for railroads
> Foundations
> Plaster, mortar, grout, filter materials
COURSE AGGREGATES
Any particles greater than 0.19 inch, but generally range between
3/8 and 1.5 inches in diameter and retained on no.4 sieve(4.75mm).

FINE AGGREGATES
Generally consist of natural sand or crushed stone that are less than
9.55 mm in diameter.

AGGREGATES IN CONCRETE
Influences dimensional stability, durability, workability, and cost of
concrete.
 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Philippines is one of the most abundant source of coconut. Nowadays, modern
applications are being explored and some are implemented based on woods
property like its strength. High cost of building material has affected many
Filipinos who engage in cutting corners to achieve building production leading
to failure in the buildings. It is therefore necessary to use alternative available
local material for concrete production.
Why Sawdust and Coconut Shell?
We consider its:
• It is a waste that is available and abundant
-The Philippines has the largest number of coconut trees in the world as it produces most of the world
market for coconut oil and copra meal.
Approximately 500 million coconut trees in the Philippines produce tremendous amounts of biomass as
husk (4.1 million tonnes), shell (1.8 million tonnes)
• Properties
Coconut shell exhibits more resistance against crushing, impact and abrasion, compared to crushed granite
aggregate.
Sawdust is resistance against freezing, burning and termites.
-insulation value
-nail holding capacity
• Cost
• Lightweight
Density of coconut shell is in the range of 550 - 650 kg/m3 and these are within the specified limits for
lightweight aggregate
• NORMAL WEIGHT CONCRETE
Bulk Density of 1520 to 1680 kg/m3

• HEAVY WEIGHT CONCRETE

Aggregates weighing more than 130 lbs/ft3 (2080 Kg/m3)

• LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE
Aggregates with bulk densities less than 70 lbs/ft3 (1120 Kg/m3)
 Objectives of the Study
• To test whether the sawdust and coconut shell waste can be used as a
substitute for coarse and fine aggregates;
• To determine the workability of the samples having a Coconut shell and
Sawdust being substitute to coarse and fine aggregate: 25%, 50%, 75%,
100% by volume of gravel and sand respectively.
• To come up with the maximum compressive strength for the concrete based
on the 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% by volume replacement for coconut shell
proportions as coarse aggregate and sawdust as fine aggregate.
 Statement of the Problem

• Can sawdust and coconut shell be a replacement for coarse and fine
aggregate in concrete mixture?
• What will be the workability of coconut shell and sawdust as a partial
substitute for coarse and fine aggregate having 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% by volume
of gravel and 8%, 10%, 12%, 14% by volume of sand?
• What percentage mixture of coconut shell 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and sawdust
proportion 8%, 10%, 12%, 14% by volume will produce maximum
compressive strength.
RESEARCH PARADIGM
 METHODOLOGY
LOCATION OF THE STUDY
• The preparation of samples will be conducted in Fairview Baguio City.
• Mixing of samples will be conducted in University of Baguio.
• The testing will be done in BIP Bakakeng, Baguio city.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
• The population of the study has a total of 48 samples
• 3 cylindrical tests (design mixture)= 16 specimen
RESEARCH DESIGN
• Experimental
-Compressive Strength Test
-Slump test
• Water cement ratio= 0.60
• Minimum compressive strength= 2500 psi
• The test will be done based on ASTM Standards and Qualifications.
• RAW MATERIALS
Sawdust
Coconut Shell
Sand
Water
Cement
Aggregate
• TOOLS
UTM (Universal Testing Machine)
Cylindrical Mold
Standard Test Sieve
Mixing pan
Shovel
Bucket
Slump Cone
Tamping Rod
 DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE
Safety Precautions by preparing coconut shell as coarse aggregate:
 The researchers will use hand gloves and safety googles while cutting the
coconut shell in order to prevent hazards.
They will prepare the coconut shell that will be utilized as coarse aggregate
where the researchers removed the husk form from the shell, as well as other
materials that are needed which can cause moisture absorption.
The coconut shell will be washed and cut should pass to sieve ¾ inch and
retained to sieve ½ inch.
Preparation for sawdust as fine aggregate:
The researchers will prepare the sawdust collected in different lumber shops.
 DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE
The sawdust will be sun-dried.
After sun-drying, the sawdust will pass to sieve ¼ inch.
The raw materials like cement, sand and gravel will be mixed at a measured
mass, volume, and mix proportions.
After the coconut shell and sawdust will be cut into the designed
dimensions, the preparation will be performed based on ASTM C 192/C
192M–02 (Standard Practice in Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens
in the Laboratory).
The concrete specimen will be subjected to curing for 28 days.
After curing, samples will be tested based on ASTM C39 Standard Test
Method for Compressive Strength of Concrete
The compressive strength of the specimen will be recorded using the UTM.
 TREATMENT OF DATA

• The workability will be determined by performing slump test and for

strength will be computed using the data from the compressive strength
test. There are 16 samples that will be tested and 3 trials for each sample.
The data gathered in the test will be compared using Two way ANOVA since
there are two test that will perform and determined the proportion that will
yields the highest compressive strength.