Experimental Study on Self Compacting Concrete (M25) with 25% Fly Ash Incorporating 10% Replacement of Coconut-Shell as Coarse Aggregate

This paper aims to focus on the possibility of using 10% of coconut shell aggregate (CSA) replaced for coarse aggregate in self compacting concrete (SCC) containing 25% fly ash (FA) prepared using additives of super plasticizer and viscosity modifying agent. The SCC with normal aggregate containing FA 25% is taken as (SCC), a reference and in the same mix, 10% of coconut shell aggregate is replaced for coarse aggregate. The fresh and hardened properties in both the SCC (M25) and SCC-CSA are studied in laboratory experiments. The possibility of potential use of coconut shell being one of the major agro-wastes in South India, as partial replacement of coarse aggregate in making a special concrete such as SCC-FA-CSA in structural component is verified and discussed. The research encourages potential use of the agro-waste known as CSA. It instantaneously reduces the consumption of normal natural stone aggregates apart from serving as a means of combining the CSA with abundantly available fly ash from thermal power stations and in turn help protect our mother earth and its environment by the precious minimised use of normal aggregate.