• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2014

Approximately 240,000 tons of waste shells are produced annually in the south and west coast of South Korea. Some of these waste shells (oyster, cockle) are recycled as seeding collector and fertilizer, but most are dumped illegally near the coast. One of the alternative solutions that can economically utilize a large amount of these waste shells is to apply them to the production of construction materials. In this research, the basic physical properties of waste shells such as oyster, cockle, clam, manila clam were investigated, and were used to prepare cement mortar with a 25% replacement ratio of sand. According to the results, the 28 day compressive strength of cement mortar with cockle and manila clam shells was similar to that of plain cement mortar. The compressive strength decreased by about 18% when clam was used. However, the cement mortar with oyster shell showed about a 35% reduction in 28-day compressive strength, and two times the absorption capacity of plain cement mortar. The reduction in compressive strength and the increase in absorption capacity were mostly associated with the porous nature of the oyster shell.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.523-529
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• 2014

Large amounts of waste shells have been produced each year from shellfish raising industries located in Korean costal areas. Due to the limited space for the waste shell disposal, the related environmental problem has been a serious issue. It is believed that using the waste shells as a source of aggregate for mortar, concrete or bricks can be a good solution. In this research, possibility of utilizing waste shells as an aggregate of mortar is investigated. Waste shells of manila clam, cockle, clam, sea mussel, and oyster were properly crushed, sieved, and sorted to meet the requirements of the grading of standard fine aggregate. After that, the waste shells were used as partial and total replacement of the fine aggregate, and their absorption and 28-day compressive strengths of mortar were measured. In general, replacement of waste shells increased the absorption and decreased the strength. However, one specimen with cockle increased compressive strength as replacement ratio increased. Mortar with cockle of 50% and 100% replacement showed higher compressive strength than that of control mortar. This increase of compressive strength was found to be affected by the strong interfacial bonding properties of the cockle and a cement matrix.