• Advances in materials Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.299-330
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• 2022

This review article highlights the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of coconut shells, and the fresh and hardened properties of the coconut shell concrete are summarized and were compared with other types of aggregates. Furthermore, the structural behavior in terms of flexural, shear, and torsion was also highlighted, with other properties including shrinkage, elastic modulus, and permeability of the coconut shell concrete. Based on the reviewed literature, concrete containing coconut shell as coarse aggregate with normal sand as fine showed the 28-day compressive strength between 2 and 36 MPa with the dried density range of 1865 to 2300 kg/m³. Coconut shell concretes showed a 28-day modulus of rupture and splitting tensile strength values in the ranges of 2.59 to 8.45 MPa and 0.8 to 3.70 MPa, respectively, and these values were in the range of 5-20% of the compressive strength. The flexural behavior of CSC was found similar to other types of lightweight concrete. There were no horizontal cracks on beams which indicate no bond failure. Whereas, the diagonal shear failure was prominent in beams with no shear reinforcements while flexural failure mode was seen in beams having shear reinforcement. Under torsion, CSC beams behave like conventional concrete. Finally, future recommendations are also suggested in this study to investigate the innovative lightweight aggregate concrete based on the environmental and financial design factors.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 2023

The objective of this study is to examine the removal rate of air pollutants, specifically sulfur oxides (SO_x) and nitrogen oxides(NO_x), using concrete permeable blocks containing zeolite beads coated with materials capable of eliminating these pollutants. Titanium dioxide(TiO₂) powder and coconut shell powder were utilized for the removal of SO_x and NO_x and were applied as coatings on the zeolite beads. Concrete permeable block specimens embedded with the coated zeolite beads were produced using an actual factory production line. Test results demonstrated that the concrete permeable block containing zeolite beads coated with coconut shell powder in the surface layer achieved SO_x and NO_x removal rates of 12.5% and 99%, respectively, exhibiting superior performance compared to other blocks. Additionally, the flexural strength and slip resistance were 5.3MPa and 65BPN or higher, respectively, satisfying the requirements specified in KS F 4419 and KS F 4561. Conversely, the permeability coefficient exhibited low permeability, with grades 2 and 3 before and after contaminant pollution, according to the standard for 'design, construction, and maintenance of pavement using permeable block'. In conclusion, incorporating zeolite beads coated with coconut shell powder in the surface layer enables simultaneous removal of SO_x and NO_x, irrespective of ultraviolet rays, while maintaining adequate flexural strength and slip resistance. However, the permeability is significantly reduced, necessitating further improvements.