Exploratory Study of Date Seed as Coarse Aggregate in Concrete Production

Abstract

Coarse aggregates play an essential role in the resulting functional properties of concrete. However due to its high cost and scarcity in some areas in Nigeria, this paper investigated the suitability of Date Seed (DS) as partial or full replacement of Crushed Granite (CG) in concrete production. Physical and mechanical properties of DS and CG were determined and compared. Concrete mix design of ratios 1:2:4 and 1:3:6 were investigated.  A total of 90  concrete cubes of size 150 × 150 ×150 mm³ with different percentages by weight of CG to DS as coarse aggregate in the order 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 were cast immersed in ordinary water for maximum of 28 days, tested to determine their compressive strengths. The compressive strength test carried out on the concrete specimens showed that all the  percentage replacement of CG for DS exception of 100% was quite satisfactory with no compromise in compressive strength requirements for the two concrete mix ratios (1:2:4 and 1:3:6). The research concluded that DS can partially be used to replace CG in production of light weight concrete where it is abundantly available and can be recommended as an alternative material (partial replacement) to coarse aggregate.

Keywords: Date Seed, Concrete, Coarse Aggregate and Exploratory.