Experimental study of the effect of senilia senilis as a partial replacement for cement in concrete production: towards sustainable construction materials

Abstract

The world today, is plagued by several environmental problems including air pollution and global warming. These aforementioned environmental problems are prominently associated with the consumption of natural resources in manners that have proven to be unsustainable. The construction industry has been seen to play a major role in contributing to the natural resources consumption and environmental problems, at large. Cement production brings about the emission of toxic gases that pollute the atmosphere, thereby promoting these environmental problems. Consequently, concrete technology findings have been directed toward realizing alternative sustainable materials for utilization in the construction industry. Seashell waste has proven promising in the partial replacement of cement in concrete. This study had carried out experimental investigations on senilia senilis shell as a partial cement replacement material in concrete production. The senilia senilis shell was crushed into senilia senilis powder (SSP), processed, and utilized to partially replace cement at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% in concrete. Fineness, Initial and final setting, and specific gravity tests were carried out on seashell powder to ascertain its suitability for cement replacement. Physical and mechanical tests were carried out on the concrete samples produced. The mechanical properties of the various concrete specimens were also analyzed in this study. Also, the elemental composition and morphological analysis of the SSP and the various concrete specimens were examined in this study with the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). The results of this study indicate that SSP concrete at 10% to 20% replacement of cement, can be utilized for various mix ratios in the construction industry.