KOKOBLOCK: FEASIBILITY OF PULVERIZED COCONUT SHELL AS

PARTIAL REPLACEMENT SAND IN CONCRETE

Thesis
Presented to the faculty of
College of Engineering

Lyceum-Northwestern University

Tapuac District, Dagupan City, Pangasinan

In Partial Fulfillment of
The Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

By:
Castillo, Von Ullyses Q.

Paraan, Franklin S.

Pulido,Mac Rovic C.

Sandoval, Jasper Von G.

DECEMBER 2024
 i

APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE

This project study entitled, KOKOBLOCK: FEASIBILITY OF PULVERIZED
COCONUT SHELL AS REPLACEMENT SAND IN CONCRETE, prepared,
presented and submitted to the faculty of College of Engineering by:
CASTILLO, VON ULLYSES Q, PARAAN, FRANKLIN S, PULIDO, MAC
ROVIC C, SANDOVAL, JASPER VON G in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL
ENGINEERING, has been examined and approved by the Committee on
Oral Examination.

Date Signed
Adviser: ENGR. JORDAN V. BELTRAN _______________________

Examiners: ENGR. JOSE RAY M. BAUTITSTA

_______________________

ENGR. FEBREY C. LAMSEN _______________________

ENGR. BRANDON M. AMANSEC _______________________

ENGR. PAUL ANDREI R. DOMINGO _______________________

Accepted and approved as a partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING.

ENGR. JOSE RAY GERARDO M. BAUTISTA

Program Head, Civil Engineering Department
________________________
Date Signed

ENGR. JONATHAN C. FAVI

Dean, College of Engineering
________________________
Date Signed
 ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study was made possible and accomplished not only through

the efforts of the researchers, but also because of the help from the

people who gives guidance. The researchers would like to express our

deepest gratitude to the following individuals who were patiently

coordinate themselves in order for this research to be successful;

To our loving and supportive family, who gives us guidance and

help not through financial but also for the unconditional support in a

normal aspect.

To our beloved and friends, who gave us advice to be motivated at

all times.

To our dearest adviser, Engr. Brandon M. Amansec, who provides us

knowledge and information about our topic in this study.

To our dearest panelists, Engr. Noel L. Siapno, Engr. Febrey C.

Lamsen, Engr. Jordan V. Beltran, and Engr. Jose Ray Gerardo M. Bautista,

we thank you for the suggestions and advice that you gave us.

With humbleness, respect, and appreciation, we would like to

recognize the authors of related studies that serve as our reference and

gives us more information for this requirement to be done.

Lastly, we would like to thank God Almighty for giving us enough

strength and mental ability to create a study that may serve as a

reference in the future and for the future Civil Engineering students of its

institution.

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page …………………………………………………………………………………

Approval and Acceptance …………………………………………………………….i

Acknowledgement ……………………………………………………………….…….ii

Table of Contents

……………………………………………………………............iii

List of Tables….

………………………………………………………………………….iv

List of Figures ……………………………………………………………………….....v

Chapter I. Abstract …………………………………………………………....

……..1

Rationale and Background of the Study ………………………..…………

Theoretical/Conceptual Framework ………………...………………………

Research Paradigm …………………..

………………………………………….4

Statement of the Problem

……………………………………………………...5
 Objectives of the Study …………………………………………………………

Significance of the Study.…...

………………………………………………....6

Scope and Limitations of the Study.……….….

…………………………….6

End Target Beneficiaries ………………….………………………..

………….7

Definition of Terms …………………..……………………..…………….……

Chapter II. Review of Related Literature……………………………...……..…

Foreign Literature ……………………… …………………..…………………

10

Local Literature ……………………. …………………………..

…………..21

iv

Chapter III. Methodology …………………………………………………………23

Research Design ………………………………………………………..….…24

Source of Data ……………………………………………………...…………26

Instrumentation and Data Collection ……………………...…………….26

Tools for Data Analysis ………………………………………………………26

Chapter IV.Results and Discussions………………………..………………....27

Preparation of Prototype…………………..…….…….. …………………..27

Data Presentation ……………………………………… ……………………36

Data Interpretation ……………………………………..………...............37

Chapter V.Summary , Conclusions, Recommendations……….…………..39

Summary of PFindings.……………………………………….……………...40

Conclusion ……………………………………………..…….….…………….42

Recommendation ……………………………………... …….………………44

ABSTRACT

In the world, the construction materials have the one and the

highest demand for the people needs for building their houses, for

the government’s projects of infrastructures, bridges, buildings etc.

In overuse of this raw materials the nature was being devastated by

the extraction of these raw materials in the natural resources.

Concrete is the man-made composite, the major constituent being

natural materials such as gravel or crushed rock, sand and fine

particles of cement powder all mixed with water. Concrete as we

know is the premier ingredient in building construction, but the

rising cost of conventional building materials and threats to the

environment are the major factors which call for the research for

alternative materials of construction. The prices of building

materials are rising day by day and the rising cost of construction

building materials plays a vital role in construction industry. Sand is

well known to be one the main ingredients of cementitious material

to date, many studies have explored the opportunities of research

on new materials with strength and durability, which can potentially

be used for construction, and at the same time, reduce the cost in

developing countries, the possibility of using agricultural wastes and

industrial by products from different industries is highly desirable

and is found to have several practical advantages.

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Rationale and Background of the study

Concrete is an artificial material similar in appearance and

properties to some natural limestone rocks. It can be assumed to be a

manmade composite; the major constituents of it are natural materials

such as gravel or crushed rock, sand, and fine particles of cement

powder, which are ultimately mixed with the water. While the cost of

construction materials is increasing day by day.

Coconut shell is an abundantly available agricultural waste disposal

from local industries. So, in developing countries like Philippines, this

waste or garbage can be used as a potential material or replacement

material in the construction field. Coconut shell is the toughest

component of coconut fruit. Shell is used for the development of

various handicrafts and other applications. Many handmade decoration

items are produced by using coconut shells because of their strength.

Coconut shells are also used to produce charcoal, which is used as

food, and this coconut charcoal is much stronger than other charcoals.

It is concluded from this study that coconut shells are more suitable

as sand used to replace the common material which is sand. Moreover,

it reduces the cost of construction by reducing the cost of sand and

lessens the environmental pollution of waste disposal due to coconut

shell.
1.2 Conceptual Framework

Collecting and
processing of
pulverized Casting Compressive
coconut shell, Strength Test
Gravel,
Cement, and

Results Micro-structural
Interpretation
Characterization

Figure 1.2 Diagram of Making Concrete Mixture

Figure 1.2 shows the diagram for the process of analyzing Concrete

mixtures using different substances or materials like Coconut Shells,

Gravel, Cement, and water for the mixture of the concrete. After collecting

and mixing up all the raw materials the researchers need to mold in the

molder can order to prepare for the compressive strength test. The

compressive strength test is undergone, next is the microstructural

characterization to evaluate the products and materials that are used, and

lastly the interpretation of the results that the researchers need to study

the data coming from the test results.

1.3 The Research Paradigm

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Water
Pulverized Mixing
Coconut Shell all the Kokoblock
Cement raw materials
Gravel

Figure 1.3 Paradigm of the Study.

Figure 1.3 shows the process of making a prototype of the concrete

mixture using cement, gravel, and coconut shell as sand for the concrete

mixture. The study primarily aims to evaluate the engineering properties

of coconut shells, compare the properties of coconut shells as sand with

conventional sand, and find an optimum percentage replacement of

coconut shells in concrete as sand. The ratio of the cement, gravel, sand

and pulverized coconut shell is Class A 1:2: 1.5:1.5, Class B 1:2:2:2, Class

D 1:2:2.5:2.5.
1.4 Statement of the Problem

The aim of this study is to compare the compressive

strength of a pulverized coconut shell and the traditional/common sand

for the concrete mixture. The study conducted by the researcher to

answer the following problems:

1. What is the difference between the traditional sand and

pulverized coconut shell when use as a substitute sand in the

concrete mixture?

2. Does the pulverized coconut shell effectively be used as a

replacement for sand in the concrete mixture?

3. Does the pulverized coconut shell is water absorber?

4. Does pulverized coconut shell can increase the compressive

strength of the concrete?

1.5 Objectives of the Study

The main objectives of this study are to develop using

coconut shells as a partial replacement for sand in the concrete

mixture. This study is to determine the sustainability or stability of

using pulverized coconut shells in concrete with the following

objectives;

1. To determine the difference between traditional sand and

pulverized coconut shell when use as a substitute in the

concrete mixture.

2. To investigate or determine the effectiveness of pulverized

coconut shells to be used as construction materials in

 construction projects.

3. To determine if the pulverized coconut shell is water absorber.

4. To investigate the compressive strength and workability of

pulverized coconut shells in concrete.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The significance of the study is to lessen the growing waste

pollution caused by the coconut shell. This study aims to provide

knowledge about the properties of coconut shells that may have

potential use for replacing sand. Also, to provide and produce a

stronger product that will be used in concrete mixtures.

1.7 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The scope of this study will only focus on determining if coconut

shell (Native Coconut) can be a substitute as sand can be use in building

or housing construction. It is only bounded by the feasibility,

strength/durability and efficiency of coconut shell as alternative for sand in

concrete mixture. The ratio of the cement,gravel,sand, pulverized coconut

shell is Class A 1:2:1.5:1.5, Class B 1:2:2:2, Class D 1:2:2.5:2.5. The

dimension of the Kokoblock is 16inches(length) by 4inches(width) by

8inches (height).

1.8 End-target Beneficiaries

The following will be benefited from the said proposal are:

Environment. This study will help the environment because the

materials used in Concrete Mixture are safe and availability in the

 environment.

Economy. This study helps the economy because of availability,

have cheaper price and coconut will be found everywhere.

Community. This study of Concrete mixture can help the

sustainability and resourcefulness of using coconut shells in

construction.

Future Researcher. This study helps future researchers to have a

background in terms of method in constructing an eco-friendly

concrete mixture if they were next conducting research similar to

our topic.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Aggregate/s

Aggregate/s is a granular material, such as sand,

gravel, crushed stone, crushed hydraulic-cement concrete, or iron

blast-furnace slag, used with a hydraulic cementing medium to

produce either concrete or mortar. Types of aggregates include

Coarse aggregate and fine aggregate.

Cement

a powder of alumina, silica, lime, iron oxide, and

magnesium oxide burned together in a kiln and finely

pulverized and used as an ingredient of mortar and concrete.

Concrete
 Concrete in construction is, structural material consisting of a

hard, chemically insert particulate substance, known

as aggregate (usually sand and gravel), that is bonded together

by cement and water.

Durability

The ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage.

Efficient

capable of producing desired results with little or no

waste (as of time or materials).

Feasibility

the possibility that can be made, done, or achieved, or

is reasonable.

Gravel

loose rounded fragments of rock.

Sand

a loose granular material that results from the

disintegration of rocks, consists of particles smaller than

gravel but coarser than silt, and is used in mortar, glass,

abrasives, and foundry molds.

Stability

the quality, state, and degree of being stable. The

strength to stand or endure/firmness. The property of a body

that causes it when disturbed from a condition of equilibrium

or steady motion to develop forces of moments that restore

the original condition.