CIVIL ENGINEERING RESEARCH JOURNAL

BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF USING CRUSHED MUSSEL SHELL AS AN

ADDITIVE FOR CONCRETE

Mark Jhun B. Bravo Christoper P. Manlapig Winefredo P. Ylaran Jr.

College of Engineering College of Engineering College of Engineering
Bulacan State University Bulacan State University Bulacan State University
Malolos City, Bulacan Malolos City, Bulacan Malolos City, Bulacan

Engr. Ace Dhenniel V. Daria

College of Engineering
Bulacan State University
Malolos City, Bulacan

Abstract - Green mussel, which is were also determined and compared to

locally known as Tahong, is described as the conventional mixture of concrete.
a large bivalve with smooth, elongated Results show that crushed mussel shells
shell. These Mussels are cultured and decreases the compressive strength of
farmed for its meat. Once green mussels’ the conventional concrete mixture
meats are consumed, considerable however, each concrete samples still
amount of shell wastes are generated reaches the minimum compressive
that are usually dumped to landfills or strength set by the ASTM Standard
are incinerated. Green mussel shells which is 3000 psi. The weight of the
have greatly contributed to the tons of concrete also decreases as the
solid wastes generated in the percentage of the added crushed mussel
Philippines. This experimental study shell increases. It is also evident from
aims to utilize mussel shells as a the results that the workability of the
concrete additive and determine the how concrete mixture is reduced.
the concrete with crushed mussel shell From the analysis of the results it can be
as an additive would perform compared inferred that as the amount of crushed
to a conventional concrete mixture in mussel shells increases, the compressive
terms of compressive strength, unit strength and unit weight of the concrete
weight and workability. decreases. Furthermore, certain
The experiment is comprised of three properties of mussel shells contributed
mix designs that contained crushed to the reduction of its compressive
mussel shells. The shells were added in strength, workability and unit weight.
dissimilar proportions namely, 2%, 4% The size of the additive also contributes
and 6% of the total weight of the design to the decreasing changes.
mixture. These mixes were all compared The researchers highly recommend
to the conventional mixture and examining thoroughly on the physical
undergone series of tests. The tests and chemical properties of mussel
conducted were Slump Test (ASTM shells; reduce the size of the mussel shell
C1437 / C1437M), Compressive and add additional curing process to
Strength Test (ASTM C39 / C39M) and extract chemical properties present in
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) the mussel shell that may contribute to
Analysis. The weight of all the samples the strength of concrete
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Keywords – crushed mussel shell our fellowmen overlooked the materials

they are wasting, because mussel shells
1. INTRODUCTION along with other mollusk shells are made
up of layers of Calcium Carbonate (
1.1 Background of the study CaCO3), which is a chemical compound
with many uses.
Being bounded by the Earth’s largest
oceans, Philippines is naturally rich with Limestone is a calcareous sedimentary
marine life forms. Furthermore, rock composed of the mineral Calcite (
conservative estimates of 5,000 species CaCO3). Limestone is one of the main
of mollusks are found in the Philippines ingredients in the production of cement.
which probably, represent the highest In order to make cement, a mixture of
diversity of mollusks in any one country; limestone and substances such as clay
and some 1,500 species are involved in are heated at high temperatures in kilns
the shell trade (Springsteen and Leobrera until almost fuses. According to
1986). This remarkable diversity of Dhanalaxmi and Nirmalkumar (2015),
mollusks could be largely due to the vast “Limestone is not only used an
number and complexity of habitats ingredient in cement making, it can also
available among the 7,100 islands. be used as an admixture. Limestone
Mussel is the common name used for powder enhances the flow properties,
members of several families of bivalve increases compressive strength, viscosity
mollusks, from saltwater and freshwater of concrete, the slump of concrete,
habitats and naturally available in dosage of super plasticizer and splitting
Bulacan. Mussel industry grows around tensile strength.”
the province and most of the mussel
shells are discarded once the flesh is With these facts stated, the researchers
used. As a result, mussel shell piles are see the similarity of chemical
common in areas of mussel production composition of mussel shell and
with no further utilization. limestone. Thus, comes up with a
research that will evaluate the utilization
Green mussel, which is known as of crushed mussel shells’ power as an
Tahong in the Philippines, is described additive for concrete. The researcher’s
as a large bivalve with smooth, goal is to examine the effect of mussel
elongated shell. These Mussels are shells on the workability, compressive
cultured and farmed for its meat. strength, and the unit weight of concrete
According to Musico (2007),”Once as well.
green mussels’ meats are consumed,
considerable amount of shell wastes are 1.2 Statement of the Problem
generated that are usually dumped to
landfills or are incinerated. Green mussel 1.2.1 Can crushed mussel shell be
shells have greatly contributed to the effective in the compressive strength if it
tons of solid wastes generated in the is added to conventional concrete mix?
Philippines. Scarcity of landfills and 1.2.2 If 2%, 4% and 6% ratio of crushed
dumping areas brought challenges to mussel shell is added to the conventional
solid waste management”. But many of concrete mix, what will be the most
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effective percentage ratio based to the other environmental factors and the
following? factors that affect the degradation of
materials, the study will not tackle the
a. Compressive strength. application of crushed mussel shell on
other type of mixtures although; it is
b. Workability
recommended that further study must be
c. Unit weight conducted.

1.3 Objectives of the Study 2. METHODS OF RESEARCH

1.3.1 To determine the effect of using

crushed mussel shell as additive on the
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
performance of concrete on its
compressive strength and workability
1.3.2 To compare the result of concrete 4. SUMMARY
with 2%, 4%, and 6% of crushed mussel
shells to the conventional concrete mix The researchers conducted an
experimental study to determine the
compressive strength, workability and
also the unit weight of the specimens
1.4 Scope and Delimitation
with crushed mussel shells (2%, 4% and
The study aims to analyze mainly on the 6%) while comparing to a conventional
comparative analysis of ASTM standard mix design. The materials were needed
of concrete to concrete with crushed are mussel shells, sieve #4 and #8,
mussel shells in terms of their shovel, rubber mallet, mixing pan,
compressive strength, unit weight and weighing scale, container, gravel, sand,
workability. All concrete specimens will cement, water, concrete mixer, slump
be containing similar materials but will cone with base plate and 48 pcs. of 4” x
be given different amount of crushed 8” cylindrical mold.
mussel shells in 2%, 4%, and 6% of the
There were 4 types of mixtures prepared:
total weight of the concrete mixture. The
the conventional mixture, conventional
curing method the will be using will be
mixture with 2%, 4% and 6% of mussel
the same for all the specimens. The
shells present in 3 trials of testing in
compressive strength of the concrete
concrete. Before molding the fresh
specimen will be tested in 7 days, 14
concrete mix in the cylindrical molds,
days, and 28 days age. The acquisition
slump test has been performed to
of the mussel shells is through asking
determine the different in the slump
canteens and eateries to have their
height of each percent in concrete
wastes be collected by the researchers.
mixtures. After curing of the specimens
This study does not concern the other with exact days of 7, 14, and 28 days
uses of mussel shells, the reliability of were going to dry the specimens at least
mussel shells when subjected to the 1 hour before performing the test. The
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researchers were been computing and much more smooth area exposed to the
recording the unit weight of all the concrete mixture. Thus, decreases the
specimens before to proceed in friction inside the concrete mixture
compressive testing then record the resulting to reduce in its compressive
results. Lastly, researchers needed a 5 strength.
mm size of the sample for the SEM
(Scanning Electron Microscopy) 4.1.6 As the amount of crushed mussel
analysis. shells increases in the mixture, there is
greater probability that void spaces may
have developed contributing also to the
decrease in weight of the concrete and
4.1 Conclusions the drop in compressive strength. It can
be
4.1.1 Adding crushed mussel shells to
the conventional concrete mix does not
strengthen the concrete but it passed to
the ASTM standard which is 3000 psi. 4.2 Recommendations
4.1.2 2% of crushed mussel shells give 4.2.1 Try the other methods or ways for
the highest compressive strength among drying the mussel shell.
the other samples when added to the
conventional concrete mix. 4.2.2 Find materials that can combine to
mussel shell to improve the strength of
4.1.3 4% of crushed mussel shell is the concrete.
most suitable for use because it forms
true slump with a height of 12.7cm 4.2.3 SEM analysis is not needed for this
which is the highest among the other research because the particles are too
batch of mixture. large for this type of analysis but if
recommended, test the concrete mixture
4.1.4 As the amount of crushed mussel with the highest percentage of crushed
shells increases, the unit weight of the mussel shell additive for void spaces
concrete decreases because of the might be visible in this mixture.
presence of crushed mussel shells in the
concrete which contributes to the drop of 4.2.4 Test the water adsorption
its unit weight. The crushed mussel capabilities of the mussel shells. And
shells produce more voids in the mixture examine thoroughly the other properties
with higher crushed mussel shell ratio. of mussel shells for future studies.

4.1.5 The size of the tested additive may 4.2.5 Try different percentage ratio of
have contributed to the decrease in the crushed mussel shells below 2% of total
compressive strength of the concrete. concrete mix weight.
Being naturally smooth, it adds up to the
4.2.6 Try smaller granular size of
factor that the crushed mussel shell does
crushed mussel shell as an additive to
not bind properly with the concrete
avoid the presence of void spaces.
mixture. Given that the researchers uses
Smaller size also might increase the
a size of additive passing sieve number 4
and retaining sieve number 8, there is
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friction between the crushed mussel [6] “Pulvurized Mussel Shell as Concrete
shell and the concrete mixture. Admixture”. Rhiande Trixie M. Mendoza, Rodel
T. Dimaano, Ian Lauren F. Garing, Arnold V.
4.2.7 Add additional curing process to Sambat, Ryyette D. Aguirre,
extract the chemical properties present in [7] “Analysis of Properties of Concrete Using
the mussel shell that may contribute to Seashells Crushed Powder as Admixture”,
the strength of the concrete Vishal Gadgihalli, MeenaY.R, Lohit,
Raghavendra Prasad HavanjeDinakar, Babitha
Rani H, S. C. Sharma (Vol.5 (Iss.11): November,
2017).
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[2] “Recycling of Seashell Waste in
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Johnson Alengaram,
MohdZaminJumaat, Siew Cheng Lee,
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[3 ] “Mechanical Properties of Seashell
Concrete”, Monita Olivia,
AnnisaArifanditaMifshella,
LitaDarmayanti (2015)
[4] The Potential of Calcium Carbonate
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