O. R. OGIRIGBO

The construction industry is increasingly looking for sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials. PKS is an agricultural waste product and its incorporation into concrete not only reduces waste but also offers potential economic and environmental benefits. This study addresses this concern by investigating the viability of using palm kernel shell (PKS) as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete. To evaluate its effect, we conducted a series of experiments in which we replaced conventional coarse aggregate with PKS at varying percentages (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%). To ascertain how PKS presence affected this crucial attribute, tests were conducted on the compressive strength of the resultant concrete specimens. Cement, sand, coarse aggregate, and palm kernel shell are the materials used. Concrete cubes of 100 mm by 100 mm by 100 mm were formed using a 1:1.5:4 (C30) concrete mix ratio, which was batched by weight. The cubes were crushed after 3, 7, 14, and 28 days to compare the strength at (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) PKS replacement According to this research, the results showed that as the percentage of palm kernel shell in concrete increases, the compressive strength decreases alongside its cost and the weight of concrete. At around 10% partial replacement of coarse aggregate with palm kernel shell in concrete gives a significant decrease in cost and weight of the concrete without much affecting the compressive strength of concrete.