1.

INTRODUCTION

In Bayesla (Nigeria), production of shell fish waste threatens the sustainability of local fish industry and environment. Also because of far distance of these communities away from upland areas, construction aggregates ,chipping, gravel etc are unavailable in these communities. So these communities are now converting periwinkle shells for civil construction and other related activities. The collected study reports shows how selected communities in Bayesla make use of periwinkle shell in civil construction works. This results in effective waste management of shells those were dumped into the environment. This paper is aims to study the physical and mechanical properties of periwinkle shells as Coarse aggregate. So reports on experiments conducted on workability and compressive strength while periwinkle shell replaces granite was collected. Finally, data regarding the study of behviour of lightweight concrete containing periwinkle shells at elevated temperature was collected.

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2. SUITABILITY OF PERIWINKLE SHELL AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR RIVER GRAVEL IN CONCRETE

The suitability of periwinkle shells, a small gastropod sea snail (mollusk), as a replacement of river gravel in concrete production was investigated. Physical and mechanical properties of the shells and well-graded river gravel were determined and compared. Concrete cubes were prepared using proportions of 1:0, 1:1, 1:3, 3:1 and 0:1 periwinkle shells to river gravel by weight, as coarse aggregate. Compressive strength tests were carried out on the periwinkle gravel concrete cubes. The bulk density of the periwinkle shells was found to be 515 kg/m3 while that for river gravel was 1611 kg/m3. The aggregate impact values for periwinkle shells and river gravel were 58.59 % and 27.1 % respectively. Concrete cubes with periwinkle shells alone as coarse aggregate were lighter and of lower compressive strengths compared to those with other periwinkle: gravel properties. The 28-day density and compressive strength of periwinkle were 1944 kg/m3 and 13.05 N/mm2 respectively. Density, workability and the compressive strength of periwinkle concrete increased with increasing inclusion of river gravel. From this study, it can be concluded that periwinkle shells can be used as partial replacement for river gravel in normal construction works especially in places where river gravel is in short supply and periwinkle shells are readily available

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

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3.1 SELECTION OF MATERIALS

The choice of ordinary Portland cement for this experiment conforms to the requirements of BS12. River sand used for this study was obtained from Oba River in Ogbomoso and is free from deleterious materials. Crushed granite was purchased from a quarry site at Orile-Igbon area of Ogbomoso and periwinkle shells were obtained in sufficient quantities from Aleshinloye market in Ibadan where they were dumped after the removal of the edible portion. Impurities such as soils and other dirt were removed and the shells were sun dried.

3.2 MIX PROPORTIONS AND CASTING OF CONCRETE CUBES

Batching operation by volume approach was adopted in the study. Preliminary mixes of 1:2:4 (cement : fines : coarse) and 1:3:6 were investigated with water/cement ratio of 0.60 and 0.55, respectively. The fine aggregate used was sharp sand. Cast iron mould of size 150 x 150 x 150 mm 3 was used for casting. The mould was assembled prior to mixing and properly lubricated for easy removal of hardened concrete cubes. Concrete cubes were prepared in percentage by weight of crushed granite to periwinkle shells as coarse aggregate in the order 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 ranging zero to full replacement for crushed granite by periwinkle shells. The mixture was properly turned with shovel until it reached a plastic state which was fed into lubricated cast iron moulds. Water curing method was adopted in this project. The specimens were made in accordance with BS 1881 . The molded concrete cubes were given 24 hours to set before demoulding. They were then immersed into a large curing tank in order to increase the strength of the concrete, promote hydration, eliminate shrinkage and absorb heat of hydration until the age of test. Cubes prepared were cured for 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21

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days and 28 days. The cubes were weighed before testing and the densities of cubes at different time of testing were measured. Prior to testing, the specimens were brought out of the curing tank, left outside in the open air for about 2 hours before crushing. The compressive strengths of the cubes were tested in accordance to BS 1881 using universal testing machine.

4. TESTS CONDUCTED

4.1.WORKABILITY

The workability of concrete batches for different percentages of periwinkle shells using slump test is shown in Table-1. First, workability is inversely proportional to the aggregate/cement ratio. For example, workability is lower for concrete mix 1:3:6 than that of 1:2:4 for every trial. It is also obvious that workability of concrete reduces as the percentage of periwinkle shells increases. This can be attributed to the fact that since the granite is denser than periwinkle shells and the replacement is by weight, the specific surface area increases periwinkle contents increase.

Table 1: Workability of concrete batches using slump test

4.2. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

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Figure 1: universal testing machine.

The compressive strengths of concrete cube specimens for different percentages of periwinkles are shown in Figures 1 and 2 for concrete mixes 1:2:4 and 1:3:6, respectively. For each mix, compressive strength decreases as periwinkle shells content increases (as percentage of granite chips decrease). The compressive strength is maximum for specimens with 100% granite and minimum when periwinkle shells content is 100%. The main explanation is that as the quantity of periwinkle shells increases, the proportion of cement paste becomes insufficient to make effective bond with the coarse aggregate, because of its higher effective surface area. It can be further stressed that the minimum 28-day cube strength values of 21 N/mm2 and 15 N/mm2 expected for concrete mixes

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1:2:4 and 1:3:6 could still be achieved with 35.4% and 42.5% periwinkle shells inclusion, respectively.

Mix ratio 1:2:4

Figure 2: Compressive strength vs periwinkle shells Graph at Mix ratio 1:2:4 Mix ratio 1:3:6

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Figure 3: Compressive strength vs periwinkle shells Graph at Mix ratio 1:3:6

4.3 DENSITY OF SPECIMENS The density of concrete can be used to classify different mixes considering the 28-day density of the periwinkle granite concrete cubes. Figure-3 shows that the density reduces as percentage inclusion of periwinkle shells increases. The minimum densities corresponding to 100% periwinkle shells are 1481~1605 kg/m3 and 1508~1728 kg/m3 for concrete mixes 1:2:4 and 1:3:6, respectively. These fall within the range of lightweight concrete. However, it is also apparent that partial replacement for crushed granite with periwinkle investigations up to 50% for the two mixes can still be regarded as normal weight concrete (>2000 kg/m3).

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Figure 4: Density vs periwinkle shells in different mixes.

5. HEAT RESISTANCE OF CONCRETE WITH PERIWINKLE SHELLS AS COARSE AGGREGATE

Attempts have been made by researchers Balogun and Salau to investigate the heat resistance of normal concrete that contains other aggregates such as laterite and basalt. However, none of the research works investigated the heat resistant of concrete with periwinkle shells as aggregate. The strength characteristics of concrete containing periwinkle shells have been indicated as adequate for construction works [3]. Normal concrete is widely used for construction works including buildings and could accidentally be exposed to effects of fire/heat anytime. Likewise, light weight concrete containing periwinkle shells as aggregate can also be exposed to temperature variations due to fire/heat during its life time expectancy. The types of failure expected in concrete exposed to high temperature variation include cracking, spalling of the concrete, reduction in strength as well as partial or total disintegration of the concrete. In developing countries like Nigeria, the high costs of procuring concrete materials for construction works have over the years constrained the users to compromise quality. This has resulted in poor performance of infrastructure in service; a major factor that has contributed to the increase in maintenance costs and the series of collapsed structures with attendant loss of lives and properties.

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In the riverine areas of Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta, lack of adequate coarse aggregate in the immediate vicinity necessitates the importation (sourcing) of this aggregate from other areas over long haulage distances. This increases the overall construction costs; hence, the need to source suitable and more readily available alternative construction materials. and mix proportion 1:2:2 and 1:2.5:2 were selected for the concrete cube construction to test the behaviour of concrete against high temperature.

5.1. TEST CONDUCTED

Two properties were checked to check the suitability of periwinkle shell as coarse aggregate in light weight concrete structures, they are density and compressive strength. These two properties were checked for concrete cubes in heated condition and unheated conditions.

5.2.1. DENSITY Table 2 shows details of average densities of unheated test specimens with associated parameters. It was observed that at 7- day curing age, the mean density values of the unheated concrete specimens with 1:2:2 mix and w/c ratios of 0.6 and 0.8 were 1503.70 kg/m3 and 1427.14 kg/m3 respectively At 21-day curing, the average densities of specimens with w/c ratio of 0.6 and 0.8 were 1544.90 and 1529.62 kg/m3 respectively; indicating a reduction in average density of 1.0% between the average densities of specimens with w/c ratio of 0.6 and 0.8. At 90-day curing age, concrete produced using 1:2:2 mix and water/cement ratio of 0.6 showed an average density of 1733.33 kg/m3 while for 1:2:2 mix and at 0.8 water/cement ratio, the average density was 1585.17 kg/m3.

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Table 2: mean Densities of Unheated Test Specimens

Table 3 : mean Densities of Heated Test Specimens

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5.2.2. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

Table 4 shows summary of average compressive strength of unheated test specimens. It is observed that at 7-day curing age, the compressive strength values of the unheated concrete specimens with 1:2:2 mix and w/c ratios of 0.6 and 0.8 were 2.85 and 2.60 N/mm2 respectively. At 21-day curing age, average compressive strength of specimens with w/c ratio of 0.6 and 0.8 were 4.46 and 3.65 N/mm2 respectively. At 90-day curing age, concrete with 1:2:2 mix and water/cement ratio of 0.6 showed an average compressive strength value of 4.69 N/mm2 while for 1:2:2 mix and at 0.8 water/cement ratio, the average strength was 4.56 N/mm2. In all test cases, the average compressive strengths of test specimens with w/c of 0.6 were higher than the corresponding values for test specimens with 0.8 w/c ratio. The decrease in strength of test specimens with w/c = 0.8 relative to test specimens prepared with w/c = 0.6 could be attributed to presence of excess moisture for hydration process in the specimens prepared with 0.8 w/c ratio. The results of strength variation with curing age for different mixes at 21oC laboratory temperature (unheated specimens) are presented in Fig. 4. The figure indicates that the test specimens for 1:2.:2 mix at w/c ratio of 0.6 have the highest compressive strength values. At 7-day curing age, the average values for compressive strength are 5.34 N/mm2 and 4.88 N/mm2 for 0.6 and 0.8 w/c ratios respectively. This indicates a 9.20% more than the strength of the specimens with 0.8 w/c ratio. At 90 day curing age, the strength values are 7.34 N/mm2 and 6.52 N/mm2 at w/c ratio of 0.6 and 0.8. this indicates a difference of 12.42% in strength values an indication that the smaller the w/c ratio value, the higher the strength of the mixes provided the mix were prepared under the same condition. Also, for test specimens prepared from 1:2:2 mix with w/c ratio of 0.6, the average compressive strength at 7-day curing age was 2.85 N/mm2 as against 2.60 N/mm2 for specimens with 0.8 w/c ratio. This indicates a reduction of 8.77% of compressive strength of test specimens with 0.6 w/c ratio. This trend of decrease

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Table 4: Average compressive strength of Unheated test specimens

Figure 5: Strength vs Curing Age Graph

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Figure 6: Strength value vs Temperature variation Graph

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6.COST ANALYSIS

The production costs of 1m3 concrete with 100% crushed granite (no replacement with periwinkle shells) and 35.4% periwinkle shells plus 64.6% granite were comparatively evaluated for 1:2:4 mix. Likewise, cost estimates were made for 1:3:6 concrete mix of 100% crushed granite and that of 42.5% periwinkle shell plus 57.5% granite. The analyses were based on existing market costs of the constituent materials and workmanship in the Niger Delta region where periwinkle shells are in abundance. Cost savings of about 14.8% and 17.5% can be made on 1m3 of 1:2:4 and 1:3:6 concrete mixes using 35.4% and of 42.5% periwinkle inclusion, respectively.

7.ADVANTAGES

a. Cost of concrete production can be reduced. b. Periwinkle shells are easily available in rainfall areas where a lot of construction materials are required. c. Use of these shells reduces environmental pollution . d. These are used for shore line erosion control e. It is easily available on costal areas where granite is unavailable f. Less transportation cost near coastal areas

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8. DISADVANTAGES

i. ii.

Compressive strength is not achieved as that of granite only used as coarse aggregate It is not suitable for heat resistant structures

9. CURRENT IMPORTANT USES OF PERIWINKLE SHELLS i. To reduce cost coastal erosion caused by increase in sea level as a result of global climate change due to increase in ambient level of CO2, it is used as a filling material ii. Because of the low topographic terrain and flooding problems, access streets into communities are typically flooded, hence elevated concrete slabs made from Periwinkle shells are commonly used as pavements iii.
iv.

Concrete for construction of parts of road and speed breaks where made from waste Periwinkle shells. Bridge in Okpoma was made from Periwinkle shells In building construction fully replaced by Periwinkle shell(Nigeria) Civil construction made of Periwinkle shells are grave site, soak away septic tank gutters and water well casing ring

v. vi.

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Figure 7: Application of periwinkle sea shells

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10. CONCLUSION

i. ii.
iii.

It can be used as a light weight concrete production technique Workability decreases with use of Periwinkle shell as coarse aggregate Compressive strength achieved by Periwinkle shell is less than that of gravel but both these achieves the strength n similar manner It is not suitable for heat resistant structures It is a low cost construction

iv. v.

11. REFERENCE

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1. Falade F. 1995. An investigation of periwinkle shells as coarse aggregate

in concrete. Building and Environment. 30 (4): 573-577.

2. Dahunsi, B.I.O., 2002. Properties of periwinkle-Granite Concrete. J. Civil

Eng., 8: 27-36.
3. Adewuyi, A.P. and T. Adegoke, 2008. Exploratory study of periwinkle

shells as coarse aggregate in concrete works.

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