Pulverized Mussel Shells As Concrete Admixture

ABSTRACT
Mussel shell waste is a growing economic and environmental hazard. The

purpose of this project was to use mussel shells as concrete admixture and
determine how the concrete would perform compared to a standard mix in terms
of compressive strength and workability. The testing consisted of three mix
designs that contained pulverized mussel shells. The shells were added in
different proportions namely, 5%, 10% and 15% of the total volume of the mix.
These mixes were all compared to the control and each other through a series of
tests. The tests conducted were the slump test and compressive test. The unit
weight of all the samples were also determined.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract i
Acknowledgement ii
CHAPTER I
Problems and Its Background
Introduction 1
Statement of the Problem 2
Scope and Delimitations 3
Significance of the Study 3
Conceptual Framework 4
CHAPTER II
Review of Related Literature
Conceptual Literature 6
Research Literature 17
Synthesis 18
CHAPTER III
Research Methodology and Procedures
Research Method 19
Raw Materials and Sources
19
Apparatus 22
Experimental Design
24
Procedures in Preparing Samples and Testing 25
CHAPTER IV
Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
Results of Slump Test
28
Results of Unit Weight 30
Results of Compressive Strength 35
CHAPTER V
Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations
Summary of Findings 40
Conclusions 41
Recommendations 42
Appendix
Appendix A
Tables a
Appendix B
Graphs g
Appendix C
Letters k
Appendix D
Test Results n
Appendix E
Documentation p
Bibliography
CHAPTER I
The Problem and Its Background
Introduction
Philippines is a beautiful country that faces many human-caused

environmental degradation. The rapid growing population aggravates these
environmental degradations by being the primary cause of loss of agricultural
lands, deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of
garbage and many others. Most of the environmental problems that are
experienced in the country are caused by the improper disposal of garbage and
poor implementation of solid waste management.
There are different ways on how to lessen the amount of garbage being
generated and one of these methods is recycling. Recycling is the conversion of
waste material into reusable object to prevent the waste of potentially useful
material. Commonly recycled waste materials are plastic and wood but food and
kitchen waste like shells of bivalve animals and exoskeletons of crustaceans are
seldom recycled. Shells and exoskeleton waste is commonly present in
countrys landfills, slowly filling up and just sitting there for years because of the
lack of knowledge on how to utilize them.
Green mussel (Perna viridis), which is locally known as tahong in the

Philippines, is a large bivalve, with smooth, elongated shell. Mussels are cultured
and farmed for its meat. According to Musico (2007), Once green mussels
meats are consumed, considerable amount of shell wastes are generated that
are usually dumped to landfills or are incinerated. Green mussel shells have
greatly contributed to the tons of solid wastes generated in the Philippines.
Scarcity of landfills and dumping areas brought challenges to solid
waste management. Throwing these shells away could also be wasting potential
raw materials that could have many uses because green mussel shells along
with other mollusk shells are made up of layers of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3), a
chemical compound with many uses.
Limestone is a calcareous sedimentary rock composed of the mineral

calcite ((CaCO3). Limestone is one of the main ingredients in cement making. In
order to make cement, a mixture of limestone and substances such as clay are
heated at high temperatures in kilns until it almost fuses. (The Essential
Chemical Industry online, 2013). Limestone is not only used an ingredient in
cement making, it can also be used as an admixture. Limestone powder
enhances the flow properties, increases the compressive strength, viscosity of
concrete, the slump of concrete, dosage of superplasticizer and splitting tensile
strength. (Dhanalaxmi and Nirmalkumar, 2015)
Due to the similarity of chemical composition of mussel shell and

limestone, the researchers to come up with a research to evaluate the use of
mussel shell power as an admixture for concrete. The researchers aim to
examine the effect of mussel shell power on the workability and compressive
strength of concrete using class A mixture having a 1:2 water-cement
proportioning.
Statement of the Problem

This study seeks to determine the following
1. The change caused by adding pulverized mussel shells in the
concrete mixture in terms of
a. workability
b. unit weight
c. compressive strength
Scope and Delimitations
The coverage of the study is focused on the comparative analysis of

ASTM standard of concrete and concrete with pulverized muscle shells in terms
of their compressive strength, workability and unit weight.
All concrete specimens contained similar materials but will be given

different amount of pulverized mussel shell. The curing method used will be the
same for all the specimens. The compressive strength of the concrete specimen
was tested at 9 days age.
Significance of the Study
This study is working towards the recognition and acceptance of the

utilization of waste products, particularly, mussel shell as concrete admixture.
The utilization of mussel shells will help in waste management and may reduce
the construction cost. Furthermore, this study will be valuable to the following
sectors:
To the country, this study will be beneficial because green mussel shells,
a contributor to the solid waste of the country, will be reduced. As an effect, the
utilization of waste material like mussel shells will also be beneficial for the
citizens because it can lower construction cost.
To the engineers and developers, this study will introduce the economical
potential of mussel shell as concrete admixture.
To the Civil Engineering students, this study will provide information and
ideas in ways of producing concrete through the incorporation of mussel shells.
This study will incite the students to look beyond and think of any possible
material that could be use to replace existing admixture.
To future researchers, this study will serve as a reference and hopefully
provide assistance to future studies.
Conceptual Framework
Considering the diminishing availability of land to be used as landfills, the

idea of using pulverized mussel shell as a partial replacement for the plasticizer,
limestone, of concrete was done by gathering and preparing the raw material,
experimenting, and analyzing the effects in concrete with the different proportion
of pulverized mussel shell with respect to compressive strength, unit gravity,
consistency and workability.
The concrete samples with varying proportions of pulverized mussel shell

will be made by concrete mixing with 7 days of curing, then testing, and
evaluating the test results of the samples
Input Process Output
Concrete sample with 1. Sieving of Pulverized mussel

varying proportions pulverized mussel shell as admixture for
of pulverized mussel shell concrete
shells
2. Concrete mixing
3. Curing of concrete
sample
4. Test and
evaluation of
samples
CHAPTER II
Review of Related Literature
Conceptual Literature
Mussels and Its Shell

Green mussels are large bivalves with a smooth, elongated shell. It has
visible concentric growth rings and a ventral margin that is distinctly concave on
one side. It is uniformly bright green in juveniles, but dulls to brown with green
margins in mature individuals. (DeVictor and Knott undated, NIMPIS 2002,
Rajagopal et al. 2005)
Generally, shells of mussels are made up of layers of calcium carbonate,

which grow in regular cycle similar to the rings formed as trees grow. Mollusk
shells (especially those formed by marine species) are very durable and outlast
otherwise soft-bodied animals that produce them by a very long time (sometimes
thousands of years). They fossilize easily and large amount of shells may form
sediment and become compressed into limestone (calcium carbonate).
Admixture
Admixture is a material other than water, aggregates, or cement that is used as an ingredient
of concrete or mortar to control setting and early hardening, workability, or to provide additional
cementing properties. There are two types of admixture that can be used in doing a sample
concrete the chemical and mineral admixtures. Over decades, attempts have been made to
obtain concrete with certain desired characteristics such as high compressive strength, high
workability, and high performance and durability parameters to meet the requirement of
complexity of modern structures. The properties commonly modified are the heat of hydration,
accelerate or retard setting time, workability, water reduction, dispersion and air-entrainment,
impermeability and durability factors.
Aggregates
Aggregate, in building and construction, material used for mixing with cement, bitumen,
lime, gypsum, or other adhesive to form concrete or mortar. The aggregate gives volume,
stability, resistance to wear or erosion, and other desired physical properties to the finished
product. Commonly used aggregates include sand, crushed or broken stone, gravel (pebbles),
broken blast-furnace slag, boiler ashes (clinkers), burned shale, and burned clay. Fine aggregate
usually consists of sand, crushed stone, or crushed slag screenings; coarse aggregate consists
of gravel (pebbles), fragments of broken stone, slag, and other coarse substances. Fine
aggregate is used in making thin concrete slabs or other structural members and where a smooth
surface is desired; coarse aggregate is used for more massive members.
Aggregates are inert granular materials such as sand, gravel, or crushed

stone that, along with water and Portland cement, are an essential ingredient in
concrete.
For a good concrete mix, aggregates need to be clean, hard, strong particles free
of absorbed chemicals or coatings of clay and other fine materials that could
cause the deterioration of concrete. Aggregates, which account for 60 to 75
percent of the total volume of concrete, are divided into two distinct categories--
fine and coarse. Fine aggregates generally consist of natural sand or crushed
stone with most particles passing through a 3/8-inch sieve. Coarse aggregates
are any particles greater than 0.19 inch, but generally range between 3/8 and 1.5
inches in diameter. Gravels constitute the majority of coarse aggregate used in
concrete with crushed stone making up most of the remainder.
Natural gravel and sand are usually dug or dredged from a pit, river, lake, or seabed. Crushed
aggregate is produced by crushing quarry rock, boulders, cobbles, or large-size gravel. Recycled
concrete is a viable source of aggregate and has been satisfactorily used in granular subbases,
soil-cement, and in new concrete.
After harvesting, aggregate is processed: crushed, screened, and washed to obtain proper
cleanliness and gradation. If necessary, a benefaction process such as jigging or heavy media
separation can be used to upgrade the quality. Once processed, the aggregates are handled and
stored to minimize segregation and degradation and prevent contamination.
Aggregates strongly influence concrete's freshly mixed and hardened properties, mixture
proportions, and economy. Consequently, selection of aggregates is an important process.
Although some variation in aggregate properties is expected, characteristics that are considered
include:
grading
durability
particle shape and surface texture
abrasion and skid resistance
unit weights and voids
absorption and surface moisture
Grading refers to the determination of the particle-size distribution for aggregate. Grading limits
and maximum aggregate size are specified because these properties affect the amount of
aggregate used as well as cement and water requirements, workability, pumpability, and
durability of concrete. In general, if the water-cement ratio is chosen correctly, a wide range in
grading can be used without a major effect on strength. When gap-graded aggregate are
specified, certain particle sizes of aggregate are omitted from the size continuum. Gap-graded
aggregate are used to obtain uniform textures in exposed aggregate concrete. Close control of
mix proportions is necessary to avoid segregation.
Cement
Throughout history, cementing materials have played a vital role and were used widely in the
ancient world. The Egyptians used calcined gypsum as a cement and the Greeks and Romans
used lime made by heating limestone and added sand to make mortar, with coarser stones for
concrete.
The Romans found that cement which sets under water could be made and this was
used for the construction of harbours. This cement was made by adding crushed volcanic ash to
lime and was later called a "pozzolanic" cement, named after the village of Pozzuoli near
Vesuvius.
In places where volcanic ash was scarce, such as Britain, crushed brick or tile was used
instead. The Romans were therefore probably the first to manipulate systematically the properties
of cementitious materials for specific applications and situations.
Cement is powder and is one of the main ingredients in concrete. Cement and concrete have
been used in construction since at least the Roman Empire. Modern cement is made of
limestone, silicon, calcium, and often aluminum and iron. Cement is made by heating the
limestone (calcium carbonate ), with small quantities of other materials like clay, to 1450C in a
kiln, in a process known as calcinations, whereby a molecule of carbon dioxide is liberated from
the calcium carbonate to form calcium oxide (quicklime), which is then blended with other
materials that have been included in the mix. Clinker (the resulting hard substance) is then
grounded with a small amount of gypsum into a powder to make Ordinary Portland Cement
(OPC), the most commonly used type of hydraulics cement. According to Fajardo (2002), this
kind of Portland cement is widely used in various small and large constructions, including roads
and highways.
Portland Cement. The type of cement used in almost all concrete is Portland
cement. Portland cement has been around since 1824. The name Portland does
not refer to a brand name, as many might think. The original inventor, Joseph
Aspdin, was a British bricklayer and named his new invention portland" because
its color reminded him of the color of the natural limestone on the Isle of Portland
which is a peninsula in the English Channel.
Portland cement is a particular type of hydraulic cement. Portland cement contains hydraulic
calcium silicates. There are eight specific types of Portland cement that fall into categories
ranging from Type I to Type V. Type I and Type IA are general purpose cements. Type II and
Type IIA contain tricalcium aluminate, but no more than 8%. To compare to the hydraulic cement
types, some of the Type II cements meeting the standard for the moderate heat of hydration type.
Type III and Type IIIA are similar to Type I cements. However, they have higher early
strengths because they are ground finer. Type IV cements are used in special types of structures
that require a small amount of heat to be generated from hydration.Type IV cements develop their
strength over a longer period of time when compared to other types. Finally, Type V cement has
a high sulfate resistance which means it contains no more than 5% tricalcium aluminate.
Portland Cement ( Type II )

Table 1 General features of the main types of portland cement.
Classification Characteristics Applications

Type I General purpose Fairly high C3S content for General construction (most
good early strength buildings, bridges,
development pavements, precast units,
etc)
Type II Moderate sulfate Low C3A content (<8%) Structures exposed to soil
resistance or water containing sulfate
ions
Type III High early strength Ground more finely, may Rapid construction, cold
have slightly more C3S weather concreting
Type IV Low heat of hydration Low content of C3S (<50%) Massive structures such as
(slow reacting) and C3A dams. Now rare.
Type V High sulfate resistance Very low C3A content (<5%) Structures exposed to high
levels of sulfate ions
White White color No C4AF, low MgO Decorative (otherwise has

properties similar to Type
I)
Source: http://iti.northwestern.edu/cement/monograph/Monograph3_8.html
Types II and V OPC are designed to be resistant to sulfate attack. Sulfate attack is an
important phenomenon that can cause severe damage to concrete structures. It is a chemical
reaction between the hydration products of C 3A and sulfate ions that enter the concrete from the
outside environment. The products generated by this reaction have a larger volume than the
reactants, and this creates stresses, which force the concrete to expand and crack. Although
hydration products of C4AF are similar to those of C3A, they are less vulnerable to expansion, so
the designations for Type II and Type V cement focus on keeping the C 3A content low. There is
actually little difference between a Type I and Type II cement, and it is common to see cements
meeting both designations labeled as Type I/II.
Curing
The process in which the concrete is protected from loss of moisture and kept within a
reasonable temperature range is called curing. This process results in concrete with increased
strength and decreased permeability. Curing is also a key player in mitigating cracks, which can
severely affect durability.
A concrete element is expected to last a certain number of years. In order to meet this
expected service life, it must be able to withstand structural loading, fatigue, weathering,
abrasion, and chemical attack. The duration and type of curing plays a big role in determining the
required materials necessary to achieve the high level of quality.
Curing is the process in which the concrete is protected from loss of moisture and kept
within a reasonable temperature range. The result of this process is increased strength and
decreased permeability. Curing is also a key player in mitigating cracks in the concrete, which
severely impacts durability. Cracks allow open access for harmful materials to bypass the low
permeability concrete near the surface. Good curing can help mitigate the appearance of
unplanned cracking.
Concrete Slump Test
A slump test is a method used to determine the consistency of concrete. The consistency, or
stiffness, indicates how much water has been used in the mix. The stiffness of the concrete mix
should be matched to the requirements for the finished product quality.
Slump is a measurement of concrete's workability, or fluidity.

It's an indirect measurement of concrete consistency or stiffness.
The concrete slump test is used for the measurement of a property of fresh concrete. The
test is an empirical test that measures the workability of fresh concrete. More specifically, it
measures consistency between batches. The test is popular due to the simplicity of apparatus
used and simple procedure.
The slump test result is a measure of the behavior of a compacted inverted

cone of concrete under the action of gravity. It measures the consistency or the
wetness of concrete.
Apparatus use in performing the slump test is:
Slump cone,
Scale for measurement,
Temping rod (steel)
Types of Slump
The slumped concrete takes various shapes, and according to the profile of
slumped concrete, the slump is termed as;
1. Collapse Slump
2. Shear Slump
3. True Slump
Source: (http://www.aboutcivil.org/concrete-slump-test.html)
Collapse Slump
In a collapse slump the concrete collapses completely. A collapse slump will generally mean that
the mix is too wet or that it is a high workability mix, for which slump test is not appropriate.
Shear Slump
In a shear slump the top portion of the concrete shears off and slips sideways or If one-half of the
cone slides down an inclined plane, the slump is said to be a shear slump.
1. If a shear or collapse slump is achieved, a fresh sample should be taken
and the test is repeated.
2. If the shear slump persists, as may the case with harsh mixes, this is an
indication of lack of cohesion of the mix.
True Slump
In a true slump the concrete simply subsides, keeping more or less to shape
1. This is the only slump that is used in various tests.

2. Mixes of stiff consistence have a Zero slump, so that in the rather dry
range no variation can be detected between mixes of different workability.
However, in a lean mix with a tendency to harshness, a true slump can easily change to the
shear slump type or even to collapse, and widely different values of slump can be obtained in
different samples from the same mix; thus, the slump test is unreliable for lean mixes.
Compressive Strength
Compressive strength of concrete: Out of many test applied to the

concrete, this is the utmost important which gives an idea about all the
characteristics of concrete. By this single test one judge that whether Concreting
has been done properly or not.
Compressive strength of concrete depends on many factors such as water-cement ratio,

cement strength, quality of concrete material, quality control during production of concrete etc.
Test for compressive strength is carried out either on cube or cylinder. Various standard
codes recommend concrete cylinder or concrete cube as the standard specimen for the test.
American Society for Testing Materials ASTM C39/C39M provides Standard Test Method
for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens,
For cube test two types of specimens either cubes of 15 cm X 15 cm X 15 cm or 10cm X 10

cm x 10 cm depending upon the size of aggregate are used. For most of the works cubical molds
of size 15 cm x 15cm x 15 cm are commonly used.
This concrete is poured in the mould and tempered properly so as not to have any voids.
After 24 hours these moulds are removed and test specimens are put in water for curing. The top
surface of these specimen should be made even and smooth. This is done by putting cement
paste and spreading smoothly on whole area of specimen.
These specimens are tested by compression testing machine after 7 days curing or 28 days
curing. Load should be applied gradually at the rate of 140 kg/cm2 per minute till the Specimens
fails. Load at the failure divided by area of specimen gives the compressive strength of concrete.
Water-Cement Ratio
Three simple ingredients can be blended and proportioned numerous ways to make
concrete: aggregate, cement and water. In concrete, the single most significant influence on most
or all of the properties is the amount of water used in the mix.
In concrete mix design, the ratio of the amount of water to the amount of cement used (both
by weight) is called the water to cement ratio (w/c). These two ingredients are responsible for
binding everything together.
The water to cement ratio, or w/c ratio, largely determines the strength and durability of the
concrete when it is cured properly. The w/c ratio refers to the ratio of the weights of water and
cement used in the concrete mix. A w/c ratio of 0.4 means that for every 100 pounds of cement
used in the concrete, 40 pounds of water is added.
For ordinary concrete (sidewalks and driveways), a w/c ratio of 0.6 to 0.7 is considered
normal. A lower w/c ratio of 0.4 is generally specified if a higher quality concrete is desired. The
practical range of the w/c ratio is from about 0.3 to over 0.8. A ratio of 0.3 is very stiff (unless
superplasticizers are used), and a ratio of 0.8 makes a wet and fairly weak concrete. For
reference, a 0.4 w/c ratio is generally expected to make a concrete with a compressive strength
(its fc) of about 5600 psi when it is properly cured. On the other hand, a ratio of 0.8 will make a
weak concrete of only about 2000 psi.
The simplest way to think about the w/c ratio is to think that the greater the amount of water
in a concrete mix, the more dilutes the cement paste will be. This not only affects the
compressive strength, it also affects the tensile and flexural strengths, the porosity, the shrinkage
and the color.
The more the w/c ratio is increased (that is, the more water that is added for a fixed amount
of cement), the more the strength of the resulting concrete is reduced. This is mostly because
adding more water creates a diluted paste that is weaker and more susceptible to cracking and
shrinkage. Shrinkage leads to micro-cracks, which are zones of weakness. Once the fresh
concrete is placed, excess water is squeezed out of the paste by the weight of the aggregate and
the cement paste itself. When there is a large excess of water, that water bleeds out onto the
surface. The micro channels and passages that were created inside the concrete to allow that
water to flow become weak zones and micro-cracks.
Using a low w/c ratio is the usual way to achieve a high strength and high quality concrete,
but it does not guarantee that the resulting concrete is always appropriate for countertops. Unless
the aggregate gradation and proportion are balanced with the correct amount of cement paste,
excessive shrinkage, cracking and curling can result. Good concrete results from good mix
design, and a low w/c ratio is just one part of a good mix design.
Water cement ratio is the ratio of weight of water to the weight of cement used for mixing
concrete to achieve the desired workability and strength of concrete.
Water cement ratio of 0.45 to 0.6 is generally used in nominal mix concrete such as M10,
M15 and M20 concrete construction. A concrete can be mixed with water-cement ratio as low as
0.35, but it may not have the desired workability for proper placement and compaction of
concrete.
For a designed mix, water cement ratio is considered based on the strength and workability
requirements for concrete construction. They consider the free moisture present in the sand and
coarse aggregates.
Workability
According to Ferguson (1973) it is one of the important parameters of

concrete that affects the strength and durability as well as the cost of labor and
appearances of the finished product. Concrete needs to be workable to prevent
the formation of voids. It is considered workable when it can be easily placed and
compacted homogeneously without bleeding or segregation.
Research Literature
The research study of Caniedo et al (2015), focused on the determination
of the effect of welding slag as admixture of concrete. One of the characteristics
that were tested in the study was the workability of the fresh concrete, which was
determined through slump test. After determining the workability of the concrete,
the researchers proceed to the production and curing of the concrete sample.
Fresh concrete was placed in the mold and after 24() 8hours, the specimens
were removed from their molds and they kept in the curing tank for 14 days.
The study of Etuk et al (2012) entitled Feasibility of Using Sea Shells Ash
as Admixture for Concrete focused on the utilization of seashells ash as
admixture for concrete. The researchers used shells of periwinkle, oyster and
snail. The said study determined the setting time and compressive strength of
cement paste and mortar using varying percentages by weight of each of the
shell ashes. The determination of the compressive strength of the concrete was
in accordance with BS EN method.
The study entitled Oyster and Mussel Shells as Partial Replacement for
Coarse Aggregate in Concrete by Tabias (2013) utilized consumption waste like
oyster shell and mussel shell as partial replacement for coarse aggregate. The
said study covers the determination of the density of freshly mixed concrete and
the compressive strength of the concrete.
Synthesis
The study of Caniedo et al (2015) is related to the present study because

both studies seek to utilize waste material as admixture for concrete. The
aforementioned study determined the workability of the concrete with admixture
through slump test, which is also the test that present study conducted in order to
determine the workability of the concrete that was produced. The difference of
the studies is the waste material that was used. In the study of Caniedo et al
(2015), the waste material that was used is welding slag while in the present
study the waste material that was used is mussel shell.
The study of Etuk et al (2012) is similar to the present study because of

the material used in the study. The composition of periwinkle, oyster, snail and
mussel shell are quite similar to one another. The main component of these
shells is calcium carbonate. Though all shells contain calcium carbonate, the
result of the aforementioned study and the present study may differ because the
impurities contained in the shells are different from one another. The difference
of the two studies is that the compressive strength test of the study of Etuk et al
(2012) was in accordance with the BS EN method while the present study is in
accordance to the ASTM C143.
Chapter III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES
This chapter presents the descriptive information about the materials and
equipment that was utilized in order to obtain the desired objective of this
research. This also includes the methods used to gather the data needed, the
procedures for experimental research, and also the parameters that was used.
Research Method
The evaluation of the effectiveness of mussel shells as concrete admixture
used the experimental method to collect and analyze data. Varying amounts of
pulverized mussel shells were added to the concrete mixture.
Raw materials and sources
Presented in plate no. 1, plate no. 2, and plate no. 3 are the raw materials,
which will be used by the researchers as sample for their experimental research.
Plate No. 1 Portland Cement
Lafarge Portland cement will serve as the binder in concrete. The

researchers will purchase Lafarge Portland cement at Alangilan Construction
Supply. For cement to be considered fresh, its fineness is checked through sieve
analysis. Cement is considered fresh when the residue after sieving is less than
10% of the total amount of the sample. The fineness of cement is important
because it affects the rate of gaining strength of concrete.
Plate No. 2 Aggregates
Aggregates are components that resist compressive strength and provide

bulk to the composite material. Fine and coarse aggregates must be in saturated
surface dry condition and well graded. The researchers will use Lobo sand
bought from Alangilan Construction Supply because, based on the study Ilustre
M.A.S. et al.(2013), Lobo sand has the highest quality among all types of sand in
Batangas Province. Coarse aggregate are classified as crushed gravel and have
a uniform diameter not less than in.
Plate No. 3 Mussel Shell
Mussel Shells are the protective covering of the mollusks mussels. It is

also a waste that is generated in the food industry and households that will be
used as an admixture for concrete. The researchers collected the samples of
mussel shells from Butch Seafood and Grill Restaurant and The Only Place
Restaurant located at Barangay Alangilan, Batangas, and P. Burgos St.,
Batangas respectively. The shells were pulverized in the Garing Residence at
Sampaguita, Lipa City.
The researchers collected the materials needed in making the concrete

cylinder (coarse aggregates, fine aggregates, cement, water and mussel shell).
The researchers pulverized the mussel shells in order to meet the required
fineness for an admixture. The proportioning that was used in making the
samples is class A proportioning (1:2:4 ratio). After mixing, the workability of the
sample was determined through Slump Test. After conducting the test, the
mixture was placed in the cylindrical mold. On the next day, the samples were
removed from the mold and were cured for 7 days. After curing, the samples
were tested at the testing facility to determine the compressive strength that it
has attained.
Apparatus
Plate No. 4, Plate No. 5 and Plate No. 6 shows the apparatus that will be
used during the production of the samples.
Plate No. 4 Sieve
Sieve is the apparatus that will be used to segregate the qualified sample
from the unqualified sample that will be used in the concrete mixture.
Plate No. 5 Slump Cone Set
Slump Cone and Tamping Rod are the equipment needed to conduct a
slump test.
Plate No. 6 Universal Testing Machine
Universal Testing Machine from Industrial Inspection (International),Inc

(III) will be used to determine the compressive strength of the concrete.
Plate No.7 Pepper Grinder
Pepper Grinder from the Garing Residence will be used to reduce the
mussel shell to get the desired sized
Experimental Design
The researchers will conduct the experimental study at the Material

Testing Laboratory of TERMS Sitio 6 Diversion Road, Balagtas, Batangas City.
The samples to be tested are 12 concrete cylinders.
The test to be done is in accordance with ASTM (American Society for

Testing Materials) Specifications, specifically, the ASTM C 39. The ASTM C 39,
test for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimen, is the test method
that covers the procedure for compression test of molded concrete cylinders.
Table 1 shows the quantity of the samples used in determining the

strength of concrete with admixture
Table 2
Number of Concrete Cylindrical Specimen With Varying Amounts of Mussel
Shell as Admixture
Ratio of Mussel Curing Time

Shell (Number of Specimen)
7 Days
Class A 3
5% 3
10% 3
15% 3
Total 12
It can be seen from Table 1 that 12 samples were tested. Three (3)
samples were made for each ratio of mussel shell and Three (3) for the plain
concrete. All 12 samples are to be tested after seven days of curing.
PROCEDURES IN PREPARING SAMPLES AND TESTING
The following procedures were followed:
Pulverizing The Mussel Shells
1. Break the mussel shells in to smaller parts with the use of a mallet.
2. Turn on the pepper grinder.
3. Put small amounts of mussel shell in the machine. After awhile, gradually
increase the amount of mussel shell to be grinded.
4. Operate until mussel shell becomes finer and passes sieve no. 100 and
retains in sieve no. 200
5. Repeat the process until ample amount of pulverize mussel shell is

obtained.
Mixing Concrete
1. Weigh out the desired proportions for a batch of concrete.
2. Put about half of the coarse aggregate, half of the fine aggregates, and
bucket of water.
3. Start mixing until the aggregates are thoroughly wet.
4. Add the cement in the concrete mix.

5. Gradually add the rest of the coarse and fine aggregates then mix until it
blends in.
6. Add enough water from the final quarter of the water to produce a
workable mix.
7. Add the desired amount of mussel shell powder
Concrete Slump Test
1. Place the base on a smooth surface and put concrete mix in the slump
cone 1/3 at a time.
2. Tamp each layer 25 times, with a standard 16 mm (5/8 in) diameter steel
rod, rounded at the end.
3. When the mold is completely filled with concrete, the top surface is struck
off (leveled with mold top opening) by means of screening and rolling
motion of the tamping rod.
4. Immediately after filling is completed and the concrete is leveled, slowly

and carefully lift the cone vertically, an unsupported concrete will be
slumped.
5. Place the slump cone beside the slump concrete and place the tamping
rod over the cone, then measure its slump.
6. Note the decrease in height of concrete that of the mold.

Curing the Specimen
After 24 8 hours, the specimens were removed from their molds and
kept in the curing tank for a period of 7 days before testing.
Testing the Specimen
Using the universal testing machine, compressive strength and flexural

strength of concrete can be determined.
Compressive Strength Test
1. Remove specimens from the curing tank a day before the testing. It shall
undergo air drying process before testing.
2. Note the dimensions and weight of the specimens to the nearest 0.2 mm
before testing.
3. Place the samples in the universal testing machine.
4. No packing should be used between the faces of the test specimen and
the steel platen of the testing machine.
5. Apply the load without shock and continuously increase it at a rate of

approximately 140kg/cm2/min until the resistance of the specimen to the
increasing load breaks down and no greater load is sustained.
6. Record the maximum load applied to the specimen.

Chapter IV
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
This chapter presents the analysis and interpretation of the data gathered
from the experiments made such as slump test, determination of unit weight, and
compression test of concrete to determine the potential of pulverized mussel
shells as an admixture.
1. Effect of Pulverized Mussel Shell in the Workability and Consistency

of Concrete Mixture
1.1 Slump Test
The slump height of concrete mixed with pulverized mussel

shell was measured in terms of millimeters. The results of the test are
as follow:
Table 2
Slump Test Results
Percentage of Pulverized Slump Height Remarks

Mussel Shell Used
Class A 46mm Failed
5% 21mm Failed
10% 122mm Failed
15% 147mm Failed
The slump test for each specimen was performed using a slump
cone. After completely mixing, the regular concrete and the concrete
mixed with pulverized mussel shell poured in the slump cone until it
was filled. The slump cone was gently removed from the concrete and
the slump was measured. The slump height obtained was 46mm for
regular concrete mixture, 21mm for concrete mixture with 5% of
pulverized mussel shell, 122mm for concrete mixture with 10%, and
147mm for concrete mixture with 15% of pulverized mussel shell.
Graph 1
Graphical Presentation of the Result of the Slump Test of the
Specimens
Slump Height
160
140
120
100
80
Slump Height
60
40
20
0
Class A 5% 10% 15%
The designed slump height for this research paper ranged from
70mm to 100mm and it can be seen that all the concrete specimens
have failed the slump test. The result of the regular concrete and the
concrete with 5% pulverized mussel shell indicates that the mix is dry
while the results of the concrete with 10% and 15% pulverized mussel
shell indicates that the mix is too wet.
2. Effects of Pulverized Mussel Shells in the Unit Weight of Hardened
Concrete
The unit weight of the concrete specimens was determined by
dividing the weight of the concrete by the volume of the specimen. The
unit weight of the specimens is presented in Table 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Table 3
Unit Weight Result of Plain Concrete
Trial
Weight Volume Unit Weight Average Unit Weight
No.
1 124.92N 5.516 X 10-3m3 22.65KN/m3
2 121.60N 5.516 X 10-3m3 22.04KN/m3 22.28KN/m3
3 122.22N 5.516 X 10-3m3 22.16KN/m3
It can be noted from Table 3 that three (3) trials were done. It was found
out that regular concrete attained an average of 22.28KN/m 3. Based on the
results, the unit weight of plain concrete is lower than the standard unit weight of
regular concrete.
Table 4
Unit Weight Result of Concrete With 5% Pulverized Mussel Shell
Trial
No.
1 120.21N 5.516 X 10-3m3 21.79KN/m3
2 119.93N 5.516 X 10-3m3 21.74KN/m3 21.68KN/m3
3 118.64N 5.516 X 10-3m3 21.51KN/m3
out that plain concrete attained an average of 21.68KN/m 3. Based on the results,
the unit weight of concrete with 5% pulverized mussel shell is lower than the unit
weight of regular concrete.
Table 5
Trial
No.
21.06
1 116.18N 5.516 X 10-3m3
KN/m3
21.07
2 116.25N 5.516 X 10-3m3 21.07 KN/m3
KN/m3
21.09
3 116.32N 5.516 X 10-3m3
KN/m3
out that plain concrete attained an average of KN/m3. Based on the results, the
unit weight of concrete with 10% pulverized mussel shell is lower than the unit
weight of regular concrete.
Table 6
Trial
No.
20.81
1 114.81N 5.516 X 10-3m3
KN/m3
20.93
2 115.47N 5.516 X 10-3m3 20.85 KN/m3
KN/m3
20.81
3 114.80N 5.516 X 10-3m3
KN/m3
out that plain concrete attained an average of 20.85KN/m 3. Based on the results,
the unit weight of concrete with 15% pulverized mussel shell is lower than the
unit weight of regular concrete.
Graph 2
Graphical Presentation of the Average Unit Weight of the Specimens
Unit Weight
22.5
22
21.5
Unit Weight
21
20.5
20
Class A 5% 10% 15%
Presented in Graph 2 are the average unit weight of the

specimens. It can be seen from the graph that the specimen that has
attained the highest average unit weight is the plain concrete while the
specimen that has attained the lowest unit weight is the concrete with
15% pulverized mussel shell.
3. Effects of Pulverized Mussel Shells in Hardened Concrete
As described in Chapter 3, three (3) plain concrete cylinders and

nine (9) cylinders mixed with pulverized mussel shells having a size of
152mm and 304mm in length and were tested for the Compressive
Strength Test. The specimens were tested after seven (7) days of curing
in a water tank and 24 hours of air-drying. The results of compression test
are presented in Tables 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Table 7
Compressive Strength Test Result of Plain Concrete
No. of Compressive Strength

Days of Trial No. Average Remarks
psi MPa
Curing psi MPa
7 1 1270 9 Failed
7 2 1030 7 1060 7.33 Failed
7 3 880 6 Failed
out that plain concrete attained an average of 7.33MPa. Based on the test
results, plain concrete failed the ASTM Standard for compressive strength.
Table 8
Compressive Strength Test Result of Concrete With 5% Pulverized
Mussel Shell

Psi MPa
Curing psi MPa
7 1 580 4 Failed
7 2 590 4 603.33 4 Failed
7 3 640 4 Failed
out that the concrete with 5% pulverized mussel shell attained an average of
4MPa. Based on the test results, the concrete with 5% pulverized mussel failed
the ASTM Standard for compressive strength.
Table 9
Mussel Shell

psi MPa
Curing psi MPa
7 1 670 5 Failed
7 2 570 4 606.67 4.33 Failed
7 3 580 4 Failed
out that the concrete with 10% pulverized mussel shell attained an average of
4.33MPa. Based on the test results, the concrete with 10% pulverized mussel
shell failed the ASTM Standard for compressive strength.
Table 10
Mussel Shell

psi MPa
Curing psi MPa
7 1 490 3 Failed
7 2 490 3 493.33 3 Failed
7 3 500 3 Failed
out that the concrete with 15% pulverized mussel attained an average of 3MPa.
Based on the test results, the concrete with 15% pulverized mussel shell failed
the ASTM Standard for compressive strength.
Graph 3
Graphical Presentation of the Results of the Average Compressive
Strength Test of the Specimens
8
4
3
0
Class A 5% 10% 5%
Presented in Graph 3 are the results of the average

compressive strength of the specimens. It can be seen in the graph
that the specimen that has attained the highest compressive strength
is the plain concrete while the specimen that has attained the lowest
compressive strength is the concrete with 15% pulverized mussel
shell.
CHAPTER V
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter shows summary of findings based on the experiments

conducted, the conclusions made, and the recommendations of the study.
Summary of Findings
The following observations present some of the characteristics of concrete

cylinder samples containing welding slag during mixing and when subjected to
Compressive and Flexural Strength Test.
1. Effect of pulverized mussel shell in the workability of concrete mixture:

1.1 When 5% pulverized mussel shell was added in the fresh concrete
mixture, the presence of an admixture gave a slump height of 21mm.
2. Effect of pulverized mussel shell to the properties of hardened concrete in
terms of concrete in terms of compressive strength:
2.1 Concrete mixed with 5% pulverized mussel shell as an admixture
yielded an average of 4MPa.
yielded an average of 4.33MPa.
yielded an average of 3MPa.
3. Effect of the pulverized mussel shell in terms of the water retention of the
concrete
All concrete samples undergone 24 hours of air drying and it was
observed that after the plain concrete was dry while the concrete with
pulverized mussel shell was still wet.
4. Comparison of plain concrete and concrete mixed with pulverized mussel

shell:
For 7 days of curing, the strength of plain concrete, 7.33MPa, obtained a
higher value than that of the concrete with pulverized mussel shells.
For 7 days of curing, the ASTM Standard for compressive strength

of Class A concrete mix had an average of 13.5MPa but the samples
tested by the researchers gained only 7.33MPa for the plain concrete,
4MPa for the concrete with 5% pulverized mussel shell, 4.33MPa for the
concrete with 10% pulverized mussel shell and 3MPa for the concrete with
15% pulverized mussel shell. It attained a compressive strength lower
than the ASTM Standard, therefore it failed.
Conclusions
Based on the results of experiment, the following conclusions were drawn:
1. The workability decreases when an amount of 5% of the total volume of
the mixture was added but increases when an amount of more than 5% of
the total volume of the mixture was added. This is due to the water
resisting characteristics of the pulverized mussel shell, which gave high
values of slump during the slump test.
2. The unit weight of the samples with pulverized mussel shells is lower than
that of the plain concrete. It was observed that as the amount of
pulverized mussel shell increases, the unit weight of the concrete
decreases.
3. The increase amount of pulverized mussel shell affected the compressive
strength of concrete. As the quantity of pulverized mussel shell increases,
the strength attained decreases.
4. The pulverized mussel shell has affected the water retention of the
concrete. The pulverized mussel shell has retained the water inside the
concrete. See Appendix E.
5. Concrete with pulverized mussel shell obtained a compressive strength

lower than that of plain concrete. The lowest compressive strength that
was obtained is from the 15% pulverized mussel shell. Because of this,
the researchers concluded that pulverized mussel shell does not
strengthen concrete but instead makes it lighter.
6. Several factors have also contributed to the failing of all the concrete
specimens. One of these factors is the inconsistency of the size of the fine
aggregate that was used, making the results of the study unreliable
RECOMMENDATIONS
The study has its own limitations and therefore, the following
recommendations are made for future studies to improve the current work about
the welding slag.
1. The characteristics of pulverized mussel shell that can affect the strength
of concrete mix design should be studied.
2. The mussel shells can undergo the process of calcination
3. Ensure that the mixing of the concrete is done properly to avoid having
unreliable results.
4. As a result of this experimental study, pulverized mussel shell should not
be discarded as waste material, instead it should be properly utilized for
productive purposes such as admixture for concrete to make lightweight
concrete.
5. Further studies should be conducted for the comparison of results. It can

be used to upgrade the recent results.
6. Future researchers should study other material, which can be substituted

to pulverize mussel shell to obtain higher compressive strength.
APPENDIX A
Tables
Table 2
Number of Concrete Cylindrical Specimen with Varying Amounts of Mussel
Shell as Admixture
Ratio of Mussel Curing Time

Shell (Number of Specimen)
7 Days
40% 3
50% 3
60% 3
Total 9
Table 3
Slump Test Results
Percentage of Pulverized Slump Height Remarks

Mussel Shell Used
Class A 46mm Failed
5% 21mm Failed
10% 122mm Failed
15% 147mm Failed
Table 4
Specific Weight Result of Plain Concrete
Trial Average Specific
Weight Volume Specific Weight
No. Weight
1 124.92N 5.516 X 10-3m3 22.65KN/m3
2 121.60N 5.516 X 10-3m3 22.04KN/m3 22.28KN/m3
3 122.22N 5.516 X 10-3m3 22.16KN/m3
Table 5
Specific Weight Result of Concrete with 5% Pulverized Mussel Shell
Trial
No.
1 120.21N 5.516 X 10-3m3 21.79KN/m3
2 119.93N 5.516 X 10-3m3 21.74KN/m3 21.68KN/m3
3 118.64N 5.516 X 10-3m3 21.51KN/m3
Table 6
Unit Weight Result of Concrete with 10% Pulverized Mussel Shell
Trial
No.
21.06
1 116.18N 5.516 X 10-3m3
KN/m3
21.07
2 116.25N 5.516 X 10-3m3 21.07 KN/m3
KN/m3
21.09
3 116.32N 5.516 X 10-3m3
KN/m3
Table 7
Specific Weight Result of Concrete With 15% Pulverized Mussel Shell
Trial
No.
20.81
1 114.81N 5.516 X 10-3m3
KN/m3
20.93
2 115.47N 5.516 X 10-3m3 20.85 KN/m3
KN/m3
20.81
3 114.80N 5.516 X 10-3m3
KN/m3
Table 8
Compressive Strength Test Result of Plain Concrete

psi MPa
Curing psi MPa
7 1 1270 9 Failed
7 2 1030 7 1060 7.33 Failed
7 3 880 6 Failed
Table 8
Compressive Strength Test Result of Concrete with 5% Pulverized
Mussel Shell

Psi MPa
Curing psi MPa
7 1 580 4 Failed
7 2 590 4 603.33 4 Failed
7 3 640 4 Failed
Table 10
Mussel Shell

psi MPa
Curing psi MPa
7 1 670 5 Failed
7 2 570 4 606.67 4.33 Failed
7 3 580 4 Failed
Table 11
Mussel Shell

psi MPa
Curing psi MPa
7 1 490 3 Failed
7 2 490 3 493.33 3 Failed
7 3 500 3 Failed
APPENDIX B
Graphs
Graph 1
Graphical Presentation of the Result of the Slump Test of the
Specimens
Slump Height
160
140
120
100
80
Slump Height
60
40
20
0
Class A 5% 10% 15%
Graph 2
Graphical Presentation of the Average Unit Weight of the Specimens
Unit Weight
22.5
22
21.5
Unit Weight
21
20.5
20
Class A 5% 10% 15%
Graph 3
Graphical Presentation of the Results of the Average Compressive
Strength Test of the Specimens
8
4
3
0
Class A 5% 10% 5%
APPENDIX C
Letters
APPENDIX D
Test Results
APPENDIX E
Documentation
Collection of mussel shells
Air-drying of mussel shell

Preparing for mixing the specimen
Slump Test of Concrete with 5% pulverized mussel shell


Weighing the specimen in Testing Center
Molds are ready for testing

Testing of plain concrete
Testing of concrete with 5% pulverized mussel shell


Plain Concrete after testing
Concrete with pulverized mussel shell after testing

Bibliography
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Mussel Shells as Extender in the Manufacture of Flat Latex Paints. TIP
Research Journal Quezon City, 4(1). Retrieved from
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Dhanalaxmi, & Nirmalkumar. (2015, January). Study on the Properties of Concrete

Incorporated With Various Mineral Admixtures Limestone Powder and Marble
Powder. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and
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Etuk, B. R., Etuk, I. F., & Asuquo, L. o. (2012). Feasibility of Using Sea Shells Ash as
Admixtures for Concrete. Journal of Environmental Science & Engineering: A , 1 (1).
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the South Atlantic Bight. South Carolina Department of natural Resources
Species of the Month Fact Sheet. Retrieved from
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Marine Pest Information System (Hewitt C.L., Martin R.B., Sliwa C.,
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from: http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Perna_viridis.htm
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success story. Aquatic Ecology. 40:273-297. Retrieved from
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Khan. Effects of Different Mineral Admixtures on the Properties of Fresh

Concrete, The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2014, Article ID 986567, 11
pages, 2014. doi:10.1155/2014/986567
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http://www.aboutcivil.org/concrete-technology-admixtures.html
Suvo. (2009). Cement Basics. Retrieved from

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/concrete-technology/42795-cement-
basics-and-types/
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slump-test.html
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http://theconstructor.org/concrete/compressive-strength-of-concrete-
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concrete-cubes/1561/
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University, Alangilan, Batangas City
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70497169.pdf
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Name: Rhiande Trixie M. Mendoza
Address: Bihis, Taal, Batangas
Age: 19 years old
Date of Birth: February 21, 1997
Place of Birth: Golden Gate General Hospital Batangas City
Gender: Female
Cellphone No.: 09169991207
Email Address: rhiandetrixie@gmail.com
Religion: Roman Catholic
Father: Randy M. Mendoza
Mother: Ma. Teresa M. Mendoza
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Tertiary:
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Batangas State University
Alangilan, Batangas City
Secondary:
Fame Academy of Science and Technology
Taal, Batangas
Elementary:
Our Lady of Caysasay Academy
Taal, Batangas
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Name: Rodel T. Dimaano
Address: H. Latorre St. Brgy. 10, Lipa City, Batangas
Age: 22 years old
Date of Birth: August 09, 1994
Place of Birth: Lipa City
Gender: Male
Email Address: rodeldimaano255@yahoo.com
Father: Quirino T. Dimaano
Mother: Evelyn A. Tuballas
Tertiary:
Associate in Computer Technology
Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa
Lipa City

Secondary:
Inosloban Marawoy National High School
Marawoy, Lipa City
Elementary:
G.B. Lontoc Memorial School
Brgy. Sabang, Lipa City
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Name: Ian Lauren F. Garing
Address: 339, Purok 6 Sampaguita, Lipa City, Batangas
Age: 19 years old
Date of Birth: June 24, 1997
Place of Birth: Lipa City
Gender: Male
Email Address: iangaring_07@yahoo.com
Father: Leonardo R. Garing
Mother: Buena F. Garing
Tertiary:
Secondary:
Canossa Academy
Lipa City
Elementary:
Canossa Academy
Lipa City
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Name: Arnold V. Sambat
Address: Laiya Ibabao, San Juan, Batangas
Age: 21 years old
Date of Birth: August 12,1995
Place of Birth: San Jose, Florida Blanca, Pampanga
Gender: Male
Email Address: arnoldsambat@gmail.com
Father: Jowie Sambat
Mother: Gene Sambat
Tertiary:
Secondary:
Laiya National Highschool
San Juan, Batangas
Elementary:
Laiya Elementary School
San Juan, Batangas
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Name: Ryyette D. Aguirre
Address: B. Bejasa St. Aplaya Bauan Batangas
Age: 20 years old
Date of Birth: July 31, 1996
Place of Birth: B.Bejasa St. Aplaya Bauan Batangas
Gender: Female
Email Address: ryyette.aguirre#@gmail.com
Father: Hipolito Ruben J. Aguirre
Mother: Remedios D. Aguirre
Tertiary:
Secondary:
Sta. Teresa College
Bauan, Batangas
Elementary:
Sta. Teresa College
Bauan, Batangas

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ABSTRACT

Mussel shell waste is a growing economic and environmental hazard. The

Philippines is a beautiful country that faces many human-caused

Green mussel (Perna viridis), which is locally known as tahong in the

Limestone is a calcareous sedimentary rock composed of the mineral

Due to the similarity of chemical composition of mussel shell and

Statement of the Problem

The coverage of the study is focused on the comparative analysis of

All concrete specimens contained similar materials but will be given

Significance of the Study

This study is working towards the recognition and acceptance of the

Considering the diminishing availability of land to be used as landfills, the

The concrete samples with varying proportions of pulverized mussel shell

Input Process Output

Concrete sample with 1. Sieving of Pulverized mussel

Mussels and Its Shell

Generally, shells of mussels are made up of layers of calcium carbonate,

Aggregates are inert granular materials such as sand, gravel, or crushed

Portland Cement ( Type II )

Classification Characteristics Applications

White White color No C4AF, low MgO Decorative (otherwise has

Concrete Slump Test

Slump is a measurement of concrete's workability, or fluidity.

The slump test result is a measure of the behavior of a compacted inverted

1. This is the only slump that is used in various tests.

Compressive strength of concrete: Out of many test applied to the

Compressive strength of concrete depends on many factors such as water-cement ratio,

For cube test two types of specimens either cubes of 15 cm X 15 cm X 15 cm or 10cm X 10

According to Ferguson (1973) it is one of the important parameters of

The study of Caniedo et al (2015) is related to the present study because

The study of Etuk et al (2012) is similar to the present study because of

Raw materials and sources

Plate No. 1 Portland Cement

Lafarge Portland cement will serve as the binder in concrete. The

Plate No. 2 Aggregates

Aggregates are components that resist compressive strength and provide

Mussel Shells are the protective covering of the mollusks mussels. It is

The researchers collected the materials needed in making the concrete

Plate No. 4 Sieve

Plate No. 5 Slump Cone Set

Universal Testing Machine from Industrial Inspection (International),Inc

Plate No.7 Pepper Grinder

The researchers will conduct the experimental study at the Material

The test to be done is in accordance with ASTM (American Society for

Table 1 shows the quantity of the samples used in determining the

Ratio of Mussel Curing Time

The following procedures were followed:

Pulverizing The Mussel Shells

2. Turn on the pepper grinder.

5. Repeat the process until ample amount of pulverize mussel shell is

1. Weigh out the desired proportions for a batch of concrete.

3. Start mixing until the aggregates are thoroughly wet.

4. Add the cement in the concrete mix.

7. Add the desired amount of mussel shell powder

Concrete Slump Test

4. Immediately after filling is completed and the concrete is leveled, slowly

6. Note the decrease in height of concrete that of the mold.

Testing the Specimen

Using the universal testing machine, compressive strength and flexural

Compressive Strength Test

3. Place the samples in the universal testing machine.

5. Apply the load without shock and continuously increase it at a rate of

6. Record the maximum load applied to the specimen.