An Experimental Investigation on Partial Replacement of OPC by Coconut Shell Ash in Cement Concrete

Concrete is the most widely used construction material because of its high structural strength, stability and durability. Cement is the main constituent material of concrete. Major raw materials used for cement production are lime and silica, situation may occur in future there will be no lime on earth for cement production, and also production of cement causes emission of many greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere, which are responsible for global warming, hence many researches are carried out on use of waste material having cementing properties which can be used in concrete production as partial replacement to cement without any compromising on its strength and durability. Agricultural waste material coconut shells, which is an environmental pollutant, are collected and burnt in controlled combustion to produce coconut shell ash (CSA), is used as a pozzolana in partial replacement of cement in concrete production. Concrete cubes, cylinders and beams are casted using various replacement levels of 0,5,10,15,20,25 percent of OPC with CSA. Specimens are tested for mechanical and durability properties such as compressive strength, density, split tensile strength, flexural strength, water absorption, acid attack and accelerated corrosion test at different periods and were compared with control M-30 mix.