EFFECT OF PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF CEMENT WITH PALM KERNEL SHELL ASH ON COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

Abstract

Partial replacement of cement by agricultural biomass/waste products is one of the effective means of reducing the cost of construction materials. The study presents the effect of partial replacement of cement with palm kernel shell ash on the compressive strength of concrete. The test procedures carried out in accordance with British Standard Institution guide. The palm kernel shell was obtained by burning palm kernel shell at 9000C for 3 hours. The cement was replaced by palm kernel shell ash at 5, 10 and 15%. The optimum compressive strength of concrete at 28 days curing is 26.41 N/mm2, which is higher than that of 7, 14 and 21 days. The maximum compressive strength were obtained to be 18.60 N/mm2, 19.42 N/mm2, and 20.20 N/mm2 at 7, 14 and 21 curing respectively. Therefore, the study revealed that the compressive strength of concrete increases with curing age and decreases with increasing percentage of palm kernel shell ash replacement beyond 15%.