Strength Characteristics of Concrete Partially Replaced with Glass Powder and Palm Kernel Shells

In view of the ever depletion of sources of construction materials, there is a need to explore the feasibility of using palm kernel shells and glass as replacements for natural crushed aggregates in Portland cement concrete. Concrete specimens produced with 25% palm kernel shells as partial replacement of coarse aggregate and varying percentages of recycled glass powder as pozzolana were tested for their workability, compressive strength, and tensile strength. Six different concrete specimens were prepared using recycled glass powder contents of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% in 1:2:4 concrete mix for compressive strength and split tensile strength. Palm kernel shells and recycled glass powder pozzolana were respectively found to be good replacements for natural aggregates and cement in concrete production. With regard to the workability of the concrete, it was found that palm kernel shells and recycled glass powder concrete had similar characteristics to conventional concrete mixes. Partially replaced palm kernel shells and recycled glass powder showed a strength variation of about 15% from natural crushed aggregate concrete. It is recommended that glass powder pozzolana in 25% palm kernel shell aggregate concrete should not exceed 15%.