THE EFFECTS OF LOCUST BEAN POD EXTRACT ON THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

ABSTRACT

This project reveals the findings from the investigation into utilizing locust bean pod extract (LBPE) as a replacement for water on the compressive strength of concrete. The locust bean pod is a waste material normally discarded once the seeds have been harvested. The laboratory test conducted consist of casting fifty-four (54) cubes specimen 100 × 100 × 100mm using locust bean pod as a binder in the concentration 0 Kg/Lt, 0.05 Kg/Lt, 0.1 Kg/Lt, 0.15, 0.2 Kg/Lt, 0.25Kg/Lt, respectively and was cured for 3, 7and 28 days. The cubes without the locust bean pod served as control. The whole cubes were subjected to atmospheric curing condition in the laboratory, and their compressive strength was determined. It was seen that the locust bean pod extract significantly increased the compressive strength of the cubes by 19.6% and as the concertation increases so also the compressive strength of the cubes increase followed by a minimum decrease from 0.2 Kg/Lt to 0.25 Kg/Lt.