GROUND RICE HULL AS AN AGGREGATE IN THE

PRODUCTION OF COMMERCIAL
HOLLOW BLOCK

MARICEL P. DULNUAN
ROMELYN P. SERAFIN

SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
DEGREE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

(Farm Structures and Environmental Sanitation)

April, 2011

i
NVSU RDD FORM NO. 3

ACCEPTANCE SHEET

The thesis attached hereto entitled “GROUND RICE HULL AS AN

AGGREGATE IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMMERCIAL HOLLOW
BLOCK”, prepared and submitted by MARICEL P. DULNUAN and ROMELYN P.
SERAFIN, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING with specialization in Farm
Structures and Environmental Sanitation is hereby recommended for acceptance.

JYRUS JYLES D. CADIENTE SONY P. AQUINO

Adviser Research Critic

17 March 2011 21 March 2011

Date Date

ADORNADO C. VERGARA
Chair, Agricultural Engineering Department

24 March 2011
Date

Accepted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree BACHELOR

OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING with area of specialization in
Farm Structures and Environmental Sanitation

SALUD A. MANGACCAT
Dean, College of Engineering

25 March 2011
Date

RDD Index Contribution No._________ ELADIO M. AVELLANOZA

Date: ______ Research MIS Coordinator

ii
 BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Personal Data

Name Maricel P. Dulnuan

Date of Birth March 22, 1986

Place of Birth Dine, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya

Civil Status Married

Home Address Dine, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya

Name of Parent Mr. Alfonso P. Dulnuan

Mrs. Elma P. Dulnuan

Educational Background

Elementary Education Dine Elementary School

Dine, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya

Secondary Education Quirino General High School-Tucod Annex

Tucod, Cabarroguis, Quirino

Tertiary Education Nueva Vizcaya State University

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Date of Admission June, 2003

Date of Graduation April, 2011

Degree Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

(Farm Structures and Environmental Sanitation)

Extra- Curricular Activities

Society of Future President, 2008-2009

Agricultural Engineers Treasurer, 2009-2010
(SFAE) Member, 2003-2005
Member, 2007-2011

Society of Future Member, 2003-2005

Engineers (SFE) Member, 2007-2011

iii
 Bontok, Ifugao, Member, 2003-2005
Benguet,Apayao, Member, 2007-2011
Kalinga (BIBAK)
Organization

Seminar Attended

Participant “Updates of the Agricultural Engineering

Profession”
College of Engineering
NVSU, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
August 27, 2010

Participant Seminar on “Global Food Security:

Balancing Sustainable Production and the
Environment”
NVSU Mini Theater
Bayombong Campus
September 7, 2010

______________
Signature

iv
 BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Personal Data

Name Romelyn P. Serafin

Date of Birth May 24, 1990

Civil Status Single

Home Address Atbu, Sta.Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

Name of Parents Mr. Roberto L. Serafin

Mrs. Mary T. Serafin

Educational Background

Elementary Education Atbu Elementary School

Atbu, Sta.Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

Tertiary education Sta.Fe National High School

Villaflores, Sta.Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

Date of Admission June, 2006

Date of graduation April, 2011

Degree Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

(Farm Structures and Environmental Sanitation)

Extra-curricular Activities

Society of Future Secretary, 2009-2011

Agricultural Engineers
(SFAE)

Philippine Society of Secretary, 2010-2011

Agricultural Engineers
(PSAE)

v
 Society of Future Member, 2007-2011
Engineers (SFE)

Society of Future Member, 2007-2011

Agricultural Engineers
(SFAE)

Kalanguya Student Member, 2007-2010

Organization (KSO)

Seminar Attended

Participant “Updates of the Agricultural Engineering

Profession”
College of Engineering
NVSU, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
August 27, 2010

Participant Seminar on “Global Food Security:

Balancing Sustainable Production and the
Environment”
NVSU Mini Theater
Bayombong Campus
September 7, 2010

______________
Signature

vi
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researcher wishes to extend her heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the

following:

Engr. Jyrus Jyles D. Cadiente, her thesis adviser, who gave his full attention and

support, for his kindness and also for sharing his knowledge during the conduct of the

study;

Engr. Sony P. Aquino, her research critic, for his encouragement, comments, and

suggestions during the finalization of the study;

Engr. Adornado C. Vergara, Chairman, Department of Agricultural Engineering,

for his advice, comments and suggestions during the editing of the manuscript;

Engr. Salud A. Mangaccat, Dean of the College of Engineering, for the support

and concern for the completion of the study;

Engr. Edgardo De Guzman, owner of the Buildhaus Centre, and his staff for their

unconditional help during the conduct of the study;

Engr. Noel B. Adducul, Engr. Edwin C. Olarte and Engr. Eduardo J. Onato Jr., for

allowing them to test their samples in the CMT laboratory at the Provincial Capitol of

Nueva Vizcaya;

To her husband, Mr. Julius A. Puhig for his moral and financial support;

Heartfelt thanks to her parents, Mr. Alfonso P. Dulnuan and Mrs. Elma P.

Patnaan; her siblings, Joel, Gemma, Zennie, and Moises and also to her daughter,

Kriscelle Joy D. Puhig for being her inspiration; and

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 Above all, the Almighty God, for His blessings and guidance in achieving her

goals.

M.P.D.

viii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researcher wishes to extend her most profound gratitude to the following:

Engr. Jyrus Jyles D. Cadiente, her thesis adviser, for sharing his time, knowledge

and effort to make the study possible;

Engr. Sony P. Aquino, her research critic, for his guidance and suggestions for the

betterment of the study;

Engr. Adornado C. Vegara, Chairman, Department of Agricultural Engineering,

and Engr. Salud A. Mangaccat, College Dean, for their comments, suggestions and

encouragement for the completion of the study;

Engr. Edgardo De Guzman, Mr. Victor Reyes, Mr. Romeo Mercado, Mr. Joey

Banhan, Mr. Sherwin Pascua of the Buildhaus Centre, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya for their

unconditional help during the conduct of the study;

Engr. Noel B. Adducul, Engr. Edwin C. Olarte, and Engr. Eduardo J. Onato Jr. for

allowing them to test their samples in the CMT laboratory at the Provincial Capitol of

Nueva Vizcaya;

Her parents, Mr. Roberto L. Serafin and Mary T. Pantaleon for their love,

understanding and financial support; and

Above all, to Almighty God for everything.

R. P. S

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

TITLE PAGE i

ACCEPTANCE SHEET ii

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS x

LIST OF TABLES xii

LIST OF APPENDICES xiii

ABSTRACT xiv

INTRODUCTION

The Problem 1
Significance of the Study 2
Objectives of the Study 2
Scope and Limitation of the Study 2
Time and Place of the Study 3
Definition of Terms 3

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 5

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Materials and Equipments 7

Ratios for Cylindrical Samples 7
Procedure 7
Compression Testing 9
Production of Rice Hull Blocks 10

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Cylindrical Samples 11
Rice Hull Blocks 13
Concrete Hollow Blocks 13
Cost Analysis 14

x
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Summary and Conclusion 15

Recommendations 16

LITERATURE CITED 17

APPENDICES 18

PICTORIAL PRESENTATION 28

PVC Molders 29

Compression Testing Machine 30

Cylindrical Samples under Compression Load 31

A photograph of CHB Mixer and CHB molder 32

RHB 33

Measuring RHB 37

CHB under Compression Load 38

RHB under Compression Load 39

xi
 LIST OF TABLES

TABLE PAGE

1. Cylindrical Samples under Foot Pressure 11

2. Mean compressive Strength of Concrete Hollow 12

Block (CHB) Cylindrical Samples

3. Mean Compressive Strength of Rice Hull 12

Block (RHB) Cylindrical Samples

4. Compressive Strength and Weight of 5-in 13

Rice Hull Block (RHB)

5. Compressive Strength and Weight of Commercial 14

5-in Concrete Hollow Block (CHB)

6. Comparison of Direct Unit Cost of Rice Hull 14

Block (RHB) and Concrete Hollow Block (CHB)

xii
 LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX PAGE

A. Test Report on Compressive Strength of

Cylindrical Samples Passing Foot Pressure 19

B. Test Report on Compressive Strength of

RHB Cylindrical Samples 21

C. Test Report on Compressive Strength of

CHB Cylindrical Samples 23

D. Test Report on Compressive Strength of

Masonry Units 24

E. Cross Section of Hollow Blocks 25

F. Computation of Cost Analysis 26

xiii
 ABSTRACT

DULNUAN, MARICEL P. and SERAFIN, ROMELYN P. April 2011. Nueva

Vizcaya State University, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. GROUND RICE HULL AS
AN AGGREGATE IN THE PRODUCTION OF COMMERCIAL HOLLOW
BLOCK.

Adviser: Engr. Jyrus Jyles D. Cadiente

The purpose of this study were: a) to determine the proper ratio of the cement,

sand and ground rice hull that will produce a compressive strength equivalent with the

common Concrete Hollow Block (CHB); b) to show the difference between common

CHB and RHB in terms of weight and unit cost.

Using different ratios, cylindrical samples of Rice Hull Block (RHB) were

prepared, cured, dried then tested for compression at the Construction Materials

Laboratory (CMT) laboratory. For comparison, cylindrical samples using Concrete

Hollow Block (CHB) mix prepared by known local supplier were also prepared, cured,

dried then tested for compression at the CMT laboratory.

Adopting the ratio of the cylindrical sample with a compressive strength equal to

or slightly more than that of the cylindrical samples of Concrete Hollow Block (CHB),

Rice Hull Blocks (RHB) were machine made using the same procedures and equipment

for producing CHB. For comparison, commercial 5” Concrete Hollow Block (CHB) were

also bought. All blocks were brought to the CMT laboratory for testing and weighing.

The ratio of cement, sand and ground rice hull that produced an equivalent

compressive strength with CHB is 1:13:2. However, Rice Hull Block (RHB) is slightly

stronger than Concrete Hollow Block (CHB) by 0.09Mpa or 4.62%. Rice hull block is

xiv
lighter than Concrete Hollow Block (CHB) by 0.39kg or 3.34% and the direct unit cost of

Rice Hull Block (RHB) is cheaper than Concrete Hollow Block (CHB) by or P1.62 % or

P 0.10.

xv