Particle Size Gradation effect on the Strength of Palm Kernel Shell Aggregate Kerbstone

The scarcity of building materials and the large disposal of waste agricultural materials in developing countries has been a serious problem in building and agricultural industries. It has now become very important for engineers to find a way to reuse agro waste materials as alternative materials for construction. For this research, Strength of agro waste kerbstones with different particle sizes used as aggregate was evaluated. Quarry dust which is one of the materials used in kerbstone production was replaced at 10%, 20% and 30% with fine crushed and uncrushed particles of palm kernel shell. The kerbs were cured in water for 7 days, 14 days and 28 days. A total of 90 kerbstones were produced for testing for compressive strength and water absorption. A decrease in the slump value was noticed as the amount the palm kernel shell increased. But at 30% replacement of the fine aggregate, the slump value was high. This was so because of the increasing specific surface as a result of increasing the quantity of palm kernel shell. Control samples of 0% replacement had a greater compressive strength at 7 and 14 days of curing for all samples, but after 28 days of curing, the 10% fine, 10% uncrushed and 20% fine replacement produced a compressive strength value higher than the control.