International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 102

Volume 4 Issue 4, April 2016, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON CONCRETE USING

EGGSHELL POWDER AND POLYPROPYLENE FIBRE
Monisha T
P.G Scholar

Dr. T.Bhagavathi Pushpa,

Asst. Professor,

Dept of Civil Engineering,

Anna University Regional Campus,
Madurai, India.

Dept of Civil Engineering,

University College of Engineering,
Ramanathapuram, India.

Abstract
The food processing industries, hotels and
restaurants are the places produces egg shell waste
abundantly. In previous days these eggshell waste are used
as manure for crops. But, in recent days the consumption of
eggs has increased rapidly due to better economic growth of
nations which in turn results in production of huge egg shell
waste by which, we are not able fully utilize it at present and
are usually delivered to landfills for disposal. Dumping of
egg shell waste creates odour and various diseases. In order
to overcome this problem we have to dispose the egg shell
waste safely without environmental hazards. As a result,
utilization of egg shell waste in the concrete has developed.
The aim of this project work is to use egg shell powder 20%
constantly as replacement of fine aggregate and to use
polypropylene fibre in the range of 0%, 0.2%, 0.4% in the
M20 concrete by the volume of fraction. Various tests such
as compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural
strength were carried out. The strength properties obtained
were compared with the conventional concrete after the
curing period of 7, 14 and 28 days. From the results it was
observed that, the waste of egg shell powder used in the
concrete will be comparatively low cost when compared
with normal concrete.
Keywords - Concrete, Egg shell powder, Polypropylene
fibre.

I. INTRODUCTION
Construction industry is one of the booming industry all
over the world. Rising building of greater heights has
become one of the racing competitions among nations.
Concrete is one of the major components plays an important
role in satisfying this process. Concrete is composite
material composed of aggregate, water and cement. The
aggregate is generally coarse gravel or crushed rocks such as
limestone or granite, along with fine aggregate such as sand.
Due to the rapid increase in the construction of buildings
depletion of natural resources such as sand in higher level is
the major problem faced by many countries all over the
world. In order to overcome this problem the technique of
using waste materials as the replacement of these natural
resources has been developed. As a part of this technique the
usage of egg shell powder as the replacement material of
fine aggregate along with the polypropylene fibre in order to
show considerable increase in strength has been developed.
Dinesh et al (2014)[1] has conducted the experiment
by replacing fine aggregate by rice husk ash and egg shell
powder. Here they had replaced the Egg shell up to 10%,
20%, 30%, 40% & 50% using M25 grade concrete. They
had conducted test for 7 days, 14 days and for 28 days.

Based on the analysis in the present experimental work, they

had concluded that the tensile strength, flexural strength was
decreased with increasing egg shells percent. The
compressive strength of the concrete is to meet required
strength with 20% of the egg shell at the same time weight
of the cubes are reduced upto 2kg to 2.8kg.
Jayasankar et al (2010)[2] has investigated the
experiment by partially replacing cement with flyash and
egg shell powder. They had conducted experiment by
varying percentage of RHA, ESP, Fly ash in M20, M25 and
M30 concrete. Based on the results obtained from the
experiment it can be concluded that, RHA, Fly ash and ESP
mixed cubes has equal strength with that of conventional
concrete cubes in certain categories.
Karthick et al (2014)[3] has conducted experiment
by replacing the fine aggregate by egg shell. Here they had
replaced the Egg shell up to 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% & 50%.
They concluded that, the tensile strength, flexural strength
was decreased with increasing egg shells percent. The
tensile strength decreased from (2.36N/mm2) to (0.21
N/mm2) with increasing egg shell from (0 wt %) to (50 wt
%).
Mahendra Prasad et al (2013)[4] had done the
research to investigate the workability and flexural strength
of cement concrete containing silica fume and
polypropylene fibers. Silica fume content used was 0%, 5%,
10% and 15% by replacement of equal weight of cement in
concrete. Polypropylene fibers were added in 0%, 0.20%,
0.40% and 0.60% by volume fraction of concrete. Silica
fume appeared to have an adverse effect on the workability
of fiber concrete. It is observed from slump test results of
PF0S0 to PF0.6S15 that there is continuous decrease in
workability of concrete with increase in polypropylene fiber
content. The increase in flexural strength was found to be
around 40% with the use of polypropylene and silica fume
compared to the reference concrete.
Praveen Kumar et al (2015)[5] has investigated the
combination of Egg shell with silica fumes are used in
different combinations to find the feasibility of using Egg
shell as an alternate to cement. Egg shell powder replaces
10%, 20% and 30% in addition with the silica fume by 5%,
10%, 15% of weight of cement in the M30 concrete. The
compressive strength of concrete with egg shell powder
increases up to 15 percent without silica fume. Addition of
silica fume also enhances the strength but in economical
point of view only the egg shell powder replacement is
sufficient enough for getting higher strength. The split
tensile strength of the egg shell powder concrete decreases
with the addition of egg shell powder. The flexural strength
of the egg shell concrete increases with the addition of egg
shell powder up to 15 percent.

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 103

Volume 4 Issue 4, April 2016, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

Priti Patel et al (2012)[6] has studied the

performance of polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete. The
fibre volume fraction ranges from 0 to 2%. Polypropylene
fibres do not disperse properly in the mixing water. Addition
of fibres to dry mix was found to be more practical. The
presence of fibres in concrete alerts the failure mode of
material. Compressive strength of material replaced concrete
increases with increasing fibre content whereas strength
enhancement ranges from 8% to 16%. Strength
enhancement in splitting tensile strength due to
polypropylene fibre addition varies from 5% to 23%. Split
tensile strength at 28days is approximately 50% higher than
7 days strength.
Sounthararajan et al (2013)[7]
has
investigated the addition of polypropylene fibre in flyash
based concrete. The compressive and flexure strength of
concrete for various mixture proportions of concrete
containing the inclusions of different percentage of
polypropylene fibers from 0% to 0.3% and fly ash
replacement levels at 25% , 50% of fly ash were
investigated.
The
performance
characteristics
of
polypropylene fibers were dependent on the optimum fiber
dosage up to 0.1% for different proportion of concrete and
further inclusion of fibers resulted in loss in workability.

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Egg shell powder
Egg shell is generally thrown away as waste.
Their disposal is a problem to the mankind. The main
ingredient in egg shell is calcium carbonate. The shell itself
is about 95% CaCo3 and the remaining 5% includes
magnesium, aluminium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium,
zinc, iron, copper, ironic acid and silica acid. Eggshell has a
cellulosic structure and contains amino acids thus it is
expected to be a good biosorbent and it was reported that
large amount of egg shells are produced in some countries
as waste products and disposed in landfills annually.
Previous finding showed that the substitution of ESP as part
of F.A gives good performance at fresh stated rheological
properties and enhances compressive strength at hardened
state. It is economical alternative to the river sand thereby
reducing the amount of sand needed in the concrete. The
Eggshell was collected from salem district and it was
subjected to sterlisation using UV rays and then powered
coarsely as it was used to replace fine aggregate. The
physical properties of egg shell that are tested are presented
in table 2.1.

Polypropylene fibre
The failure mode of conventional concrete is
mainly due to spalling, while the failure mode of fiber
reinforced concrete is bulging in transverse direction. To
overcome some shortcomings of conventional concrete such
as low tensile and flexural strength, poor toughness, high
brittleness fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) has been
developed in recent years. The steel bers have high elastic
modulus and stiffness so they can improve compressive
strength and toughness of concrete. On the other hand, the
polypropylene bers have good ductility, neness, and
dispersion so they can restrain the plastic cracks. The
ductility of fiber reinforced concrete depends on the ability
of the fibers to bridge cracks at high levels of strain. The
polymeric fiber viz., polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester,
acrylic, and aramid fibers are becoming popular these days.
Polypropylene fibers, produced by the fibrillation of
polypropylene films, have been used in Portland cement
concrete since the late 1960s (Bentur and Mindess, 1990).
With nominal lengths of 6, 12 or 18 mm, polypropylene
fiber is the ideal solution for concrete mixtures susceptible
to plastic shrinkage, cracking and crazing. Addition of
polypropylene fibers decreases the unit weight of concrete
and increases its strength. Good concrete must have high
strength and low permeability. Inclusion of polypropylene
fibers reduces the water permeability, increases the flexural
strength due to its high modulus of elasticity. Polypropylene
fibers have hydrophobic levels, which protect them against
wetting with cement paste. The hydrophobic nature of
polypropylene has no effect on the amount of water needed
for concrete. Therefore, when placed in a concrete matrix
they need only be mixed long enough to insure dispersion in
the concrete mixture. The mixing time of fibrillated or tape
fibers should be kept to a minimum to avoid possible
shredding of the fibres. The polypropylene fibre was
collected from kangeyam near Tirupur (MJ Suppliers). The
properties of the Polypropylene Fibre as per material testing
certificate are given in the table 3.2 as shown below.
TABLE 2.2 PROPERTIES OF POLYPROPYLENE
FIBRE
1

Material

Density(g/cm3)

0.91

Tensile strength(Mpa)

500

Elongation rate

15%

Acid resistance

Fine

Length of fibre (mm)

12

Diameter of fibre(mm)

38

Melting point (C)

160-180

Burning Point (C)

>360

10

Colour

white

TABLE 2.1 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF EGG

SHELL POWDER
S.No
Name
Physical properties
Specific gravity
0.82
1
Bulk Density
0.8
2

FIGURE 2.1 EGG SHELL POWDER

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Polypropylene fibre

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 104

Volume 4 Issue 4, April 2016, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

powder & 0.2% polypropylene fibre by weight of concrete

and it increased by 19.41% than the conventional concrete.
TABLE 3.1 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF
CONCRETE
% Egg

Shell

PP

powder

fibre

M1

20

M2

7days

14days

28 days

(N/mm2)

(N/mm2)

(N/mm2)

14.9

18

22.33

20

0.2

20.88

24.44

28.66

M3

20

0.4

16.4

21.77

25.3

M4

20

0.6

14.22

17.3

20.1

M5

20

0.8

12

16.4

18.2

Mix

FIGURE 2.2 POLYPROPYLENE FIBRE

Methods
In this project, M20 grade concrete was taken
in which 20% fine aggregate was replaced by egg shell
powder and cured for 7, 14 and 28 days and tested for
compressive strength, split tensile strength and Flexural
strength. The results obtained from those test were noted.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Castings of the specimens were done as per
IS: 10086-1982. The mixing, compacting and curing of
concrete are done according to IS 516: 1959. The plain
samples of cubes, and cylinders were cured for 28 days in
water at room temperature. The specimens were taken for
testing such as compression test, split tensile strength test
and flexural strength test. The specimens were tested in the
universal testing machine. Three numbers of specimens in
each were tested and the average value is calculated. The
results were compared and analysed with that of control
mix.
The following tables and graphs give the
details of the experimental results of concrete in which the
fine aggregate is replaced with constant eggshell powder of
20% and polypropylene fibre is added at varying percentage
by the weight of the concrete.

Compressive strength
Mpa

General

20%ESP & 0%
PP fibre

20% ESP &

0.2% PP fibre

7 14 28
days days days
Curing periods

20%ESP &
0.4% PP fibre

20%ESP &
0.6% PP fibre

FIGURE 3.1 EFFECT OF REPLACEMENT OF ESP

AND PP FIBRE IN CONCRETE THROUGH
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

Compressive strength
Compressive strength is most important
property of the hardened concrete. The concrete cubes were
casted, cured and tested accordance with IS standard and 7,
14, & 28 days. Compressive strength result of concrete are
listed in table 4.1. The highest compressive strength value is
28.66 Mpa which is obtained at 28 days by replacement of
20% of fine aggregate by eggshell powder and 0.2% of
polypropylene fibre by weight of concrete when compared
to the conventional mix. Fig 3.1 and Table 3.1 shows that
the compressive strength of concrete for various mixes.
Figure was drawn between compressive strength and curing
periods for the various mixes. From the result, the optimum
strength is obtained at replacement of 20% of fine aggregate
by egg shell powder & addition of 0.2% polypropylene fibre
by weight of concrete.
The compressive strength is gradually increased up to
adding 0.2% of PP fibre and it was found that, there was
decrease in strength with further increase in the percentage
of fibre added. Maximum Compressive strength of cube is
found to be 28.66 Mpa at 20% of fine aggregate by egg shell

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

FIGURE 3.2 SPECIMEN AFTER TESTED FOR

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Split tensile strength
After curing of cylinders for respective days it
was placed in testing machine having a maximum capacity
of 1000 KN. The load is applied on the cylinder specimens.
The cylinder specimen was failed at ultimate load which

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 105

Volume 4 Issue 4, April 2016, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

was noted from dial gauge reading. From the result, it was
found that the split tensile strength was increased at
replacement of 20% of fine aggregate by egg shell powder
& addition of 0.2% polypropylene fibre by weight of
concrete when compared to the conventional mix. Split
tensile strength is most important property of the hardened
concrete. The concrete cylinders were casted, cured and
tested accordance with the IS standard and 7, 14, & 28 days
split tensile strength result of concrete are listed in table 4.2
Based on the result, the highest split tensile strength value is
2.76 N/mm2 which is obtained at 28 days by replacement of
20% of fine aggregate by egg shell powder & addition of
0.2% polypropylene fibre by weight of concrete when
compared to the conventional mix.
TABLE 3.2 SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH OF
CONCRETE
Mix

Shell
powder

M1

% PP
Fibre

20

7days
2

(N/mm )

0.72

14days
2

(N/mm )

1.06

28days
(N/mm2)

% Egg
Shell
powder

% Polypropylene

28days
(N/mm2)

M1

20

4.44

M2

20

0.2

5.77

M3

20

0.4

M4

20

0.6

4.77

M5

20

0.8

4.33

M2

20

0.2

1.62

2.14

2.76

M3

20

0.4

1.414

1.73

2.1

M4

20

0.6

1.2

1.54

1.87

M5

20

0.8

0.9

1.37

1.73

Split tensile strength

Mpa

Flexural strength
After curing of concrete prism specimens,
they were placed in testing machine having a maximum
capacity of 100 KN. The load is applied on the prism
specimens. The specimen is failed at ultimate load which is
noted from dial gauge reading. From the results (Table 3.3),
the flexural strength was increased at replacement of 20% of
fine aggregate by egg shell powder & addition of 0.2%
polypropylene fibre by weight of concrete when compared
to the conventional concrete. Flexural strength is the
property of the hardened concrete. Based on the results, the
highest flexural strength value is 5.77 N/mm2 which was
obtained at 28 days by replacement of 20% of fine aggregate
by egg shell powder & addition of 0.2% polypropylene fibre
by weight of concrete when compared to the conventional
mix.

1.43

Mix

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

Fig 3.3 and Table 3.2 shows that, the split

tensile strength of concrete for various mixes. Strength was
increased by 16.9 % than the conventional concrete.

TABLE 3.3 FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

Flexural strength Mpa

% Egg

FIGURE 3.4 SPECIMEN AFTER TESTED FOR SPLIT

TENSILE STRENGTH

20%ESP & 0%
PP fibre

20% ESP &

0% PP fibre

6
4

20% ESP &

0.2% PP fibre

2
0
28
days
Curing Period

20% ESP &

0.2% PP fibre

20% ESP &

0.4% PP fibre
20% ESP &
0.6% PP fibre

FIGURE 3.5 EFFECT OF REPLACEMENT OF ESP

AND PP FIBRE IN CONCRETE THROUGH
FLEXURAL STRENGTH

20%ESP &
0.4% PP fibre
Curing periods

20%ESP &
0.6% PP fibre

FIGURE 3.3 EFFECT OF REPLACEMENT OF ESP

AND PP FIBRE IN CONCRETE THROUGH SPLIT
TENSILE STRENGTH

Fig 3.5 shows that, the flexural strength of

concrete for various mixes. Flexural strength was increased
27.09 % than conventional concrete by the replacement of
ESP & addition of PP fibre in concrete.

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Technology (IJAERT) 106

Volume 4 Issue 4, April 2016, ISSN No.: 2348 8190

[4]

IV. CONCLUSION
Experimental investigations were conducted to determine
the characteristics of M20 concrete with 20% replacement
of fine aggregate by Egg shell powder (ESP) and
polypropylene fibre (PP) was added in varying percentage
by weight of the concrete. Concrete specimens were casted
and tested for determining the Compressive strength, split
tensile strength and flexural strength. Based on the test
results, it was inferred that the percentage at which the
addition of polypropylene fibre by weight of concrete with
20% constant replacement of fine aggregate by eggshell
powder had given the better result when compared with the
conventional concrete with respect to 7, 14 and 28 days
compressive strength, split tensile strength and 28 days
flexural strength.

[5]

[6]

[7]

Compressive strength increases with increase of

percentage of Polypropylene fibre up to certain limit.
Concrete acquires maximum increase in compressive
strength at 20% of fine aggregate replaced by ESP &
0.2% of PP fibre was added by the weight of concrete
for M20 grade of concrete.
The optimum strength was obtained at 20% of fine
aggregate replaced by ESP & 0.2% of PP fibre was
added by the weight of concrete
Maximum Compressive strength of cube was found to
be 28.66 N/mm2 at 20% replacement of fine aggregate
replaced by ESP & 0.2% of PP fibre were added by the
weight of concrete and it was increased by 19.41% than
the conventional concrete.
Maximum split tensile strength of cylinder was found to
be 2.76 N/mm2 at 20% of fine aggregate replaced by
ESP & 0.2% of PP fibre were added by the weight of
concrete and it was increased by 16.9% than the
conventional concrete.
Maximum flexural strength of prism was found to be
5.77 N/mm2 at 20% of fine aggregate replaced by ESP
& 0.2% of PP fibre were added by the weight of
concrete and it was increased by 27.09% than the
conventional concrete.

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[2]

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