POTENTIALS OF SAWDUST AND PALM KERNEL SHELL AS PERFECT SUBSTITUTES FOR SAND AND GRANITE IN CONCRETE
ADEBAYO, DAUDA ADESHINA, Volume 6 Issue 1, 2022 Pages 1-10, Published: 2023-06-22
Abstract
This research investigated the effect of replacing sand with sawdust in palmkernel shell concrete. Sawdust is a waste produced during the processing of timber. The unsustainable disposal method of sawdust aids global warming and its adjoining effects are inimical to healthy living and detrimental to our environment. The objectives of the research include: to examine the workability level of palm kernel shell sawdust concrete, to measure and compare the Compressive, Splitting tensile and Flexural strength of sawdust palm kernel shell concrete with normal weight concrete, to determine the water absorption of sawdust palm kernel shell concrete at different level of sand replacement. Sand was replaced with Sawdust in percentages of 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% and Palm kernel shell was used instead of granite at ratio 1:2:4. The materials were batched in volume due to the relative density of sawdust, the specimen were produced and cured using membrane curing method. The specimens were tested at 7, 14and 28 days and the results were presented in tables and figures. The results show that the workability of Sawdust palmkernel shell concrete decreases as the volume of sawdust increases, the compressive and tensile strength also decreases as the volume sawdust increases and water absorption of Sawdust palmkernel shell concrete increases as the volume of sawdust increases. The study recommends the usage of sawdust and palm-kernel shell as good and cost-effective replacement for sand and granite in concreting works for building with nonstructural requirements, especially at 10% to 25 % sawdust to sand replacement.