IMPROVEMENT OF STRENGTH OF CONCRETE WITH PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF COARSE AGGREGATE WITH COCONUT SHELL AND FINE AGGREGATE WITH COIR FIBRE

The growing concern of resource depletion and global pollution has challenged many researchers to seek and develop new materials relying on renewable resources. These include the use of by-products and waste materials for building construction. The utilization of coconut shells and coir fiber as a partial replacement for fine and coarse aggregates has been investigated in this study. This research work includes the experimental study of using locally available coconut shells as partial replacement with coarse aggregates and coir fiber obtained from metal casting industries as partial replacement with sand to achieve maximum compressive strength of concrete. At the moment, 90% of this waste is disposed of to landfill as non-hazardous waste while only 10% is beneficially reused. In the present study, steps have been taken to partially replace the fine aggregate with coir fiber. The use of coconut shells and coir fibre sand in concrete will considerably decrease the scarcity of natural aggregates. Because of this reason coconut shells and coir fiber are utilized as partial replacement in fine and coarse aggregates in concrete with 0%, 5% + 5%, 10% +10% , 15%+15%, and 20%+ 20% substitution in M30 grade concrete. These were casted and tested for compressive strength and Flexural strength after a curing period.. Based on the results presented in this project, it can be concluded that concrete mixture can be prepared with coir fiber sand and coconut shells as partial replacement to improve the strength of concrete structure