Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region IV-A CALABARZON
DIVISION OF LAGUNA
District of San Pedro
PACITA COMPLEX NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Sampaguita St. Ph.6A1 Pacita Complex I, Brgy. San Vicente, San Pedro Laguna
Tel & Fax No. (02) 8475316 E-mail: pcnhs_m2c99@yahoo.com

“Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) as an additive for concrete block”

By:

Buenaobra, Jeanne A.

Donato, Allaiza A.

Mangalus, D.
 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGS

Introduction

The shell of Asian clams is a one of the wastes on our environment. It is being disposed

after getting its meat. The disposal of the Asian clam’s shell has gained the researcher’s attention

to conduct as study in preserving our nature.

The shell of Asian clams has a component called Calcium carbonate that improves the

performance of the concrete. The researchers come up with the idea of using the shell of Asian

clams as an additive for making concrete blocks.

Concrete blocks are used in construction; the researchers think that they can lessen the

disposal of Asian clams’ shell by using recycling it for making concrete blocks.

Background of the study

The researcher focuses on the feasibility of Asian clams’ shell as an additive for making

concrete blocks. The shell of Asian clam has a component called calcium carbonate. Calcium

carbonate can improve the performance of the concrete blocks. The purpose of the study is to

compare the concrete blocks made by the researcher and the commercialized concrete blocks that

is sold in markets.
Statement of the problem

The study aims to answer the following:

1. The feasibility of Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea)’s shell as an additive for making concrete
blocks

2. The tensile strength of the concrete blocks made by the researchers is more than or equal than
the commercialized concrete blocks.

Objectives

The general objective of this study was to make a concrete block by using the shell of
Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) as an additive. The specific idea of this study was to compare
the concrete blocks made by the researcher and the commercialized concrete blocks that are sold
in markets.

Hypotheses

On the bases of the research problem, the following are the hypothesis formed:

Ho: Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) are not as an additive in making a concrete block

Ha: Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) are effective as an additive in making a concrete

block

Significance of the study

This study would be beneficial to the following:

Community

This study can be a big help to the community because they can use a better and stronger

concrete blocks. It is less expensive and greener than a usual concrete blocks.
 Concrete Producers

Since the consumers are more aware about the climate change, the market is starting to

demand more environmental-friendly materials. This research can benefit the concrete producer

to create a new green concrete block.

Environment

This research can also benefit the environment because the researcher will use dead shells

to create a green concrete block.

Student-Researcher

The result of this study would be a good source of information that can help the

students who wants to pursue the further studies and experimentation about green concrete

blocks.

Scope and Limitation

The researcher will focus on comparing the tensile strength of the concrete block made

by the researcher and commercialized concrete block.

Conceptual framework and Paradigm

Input Thru-put Output

Accumulation Making and The shell of the

of Asian clams Testing of the Asian clams is
green concrete feasible as an
block . additive in making
concrete block.
 The conceptual framework of this study involves the steps in conducting the research.

The input is the accumulation of Asian clams. It also includes about the gathering of information

about the other green concrete blocks.

The thru-put involves the making and testing of green concrete blocks. The green

concrete blocks were brought to Department of Science and Technology (DOST) at Los Ba𝑛̃os,

Laguna for testing of it’s tensile strength and to compare it to the other green concrete blocks.

The output is there result or the conclusion of the researchers. Asian clams is feasible as

an additive in making green concrete blocks.

Definition of terms

Calcium Carbonate - a white, insoluble solid occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, marble,
and calcite, and forming mollusk shells and stony corals.

Tensile Strength - The resistance of a material to a force tending to tear it apart, measured as the
maximum tension the material can withstand without tearing.
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

RELATED LITERATURE

Foreign

Concrete blocks are usually used in construction especially in building houses. A

standard concrete block weighs 38-43 lb. It is usually made up of water, aggregate

(gravel,sand,or rocks) and cement. The cement stands as a binder for the aggregates and water.

Due to the process of Hydration, the water and cement dries and makes the concrete blocks

stronger.

Asian clams can be found in fresh waters of Eastern and Southern Asia. It is made up of a

component called Calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate can increase the mechanical strength of

concrete due to the process called carbonation.

In addition to that, a study conducted by Francis Horne states that shells is made up of 3

layers and the most of it is composed of Calcium carbonate. . He compared the exoskeleton of

snails and clams and the endoskeleton of turtles. In his study, he stated that the exoskeleton of

snails and clams and the endoskeleton of turtles, differ in its composition because the

exoskeleton of snails and clams is made up of Calcium carbonate while the endoskeleton of

turtles is made up of calcium phosphate. Both are used for protection and both shells are strong.
Local

Concrete hollow blocks (CHB) are one of the most extensively used walling material in

the Philippines, it is mostly used because of it's low cost compared to other materials. CHB walls

are very weak against lateral loads (pushing or pulling forces from typhoon or earthquake)

though it has advantages such as, it's an readily available product, good thermal and sound

resistance, Can be reinforced to increase lateral resistance against earthquakes and typhoons and

has a 20+ years lifespan. CHB is made out of crushed coarse sand and gravel and the supplies are

widely available in the Philippines that enables it to be a easily produced product. The most

common mix of CHB is 1/2 bucket water, 1 bucket cement and 7 buckets sand, the water shall

not exceed 28 liters per 40 kilograms per bag of cement and the slump test shall not exceed 10

cm unless it's specified by a structural engineer while the mixture for the mortar is 1 bucket

water, 1 bucket cement and 3 buckets sand.

RELATED STUDIES

Foreign

A study was conducted by Turgut, P. and Yahlizalde, E.S. et.al, “research into concrete

blocks with waste glass”. The compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength

and abrasion resistance of the block is compared to standard sample of block. The researcher

found out that the fine glass has a potential to be use in production of blocks at level of 20%.

On the other hand, a study was conducted by Wang, G. Lu, L. and Wang, S. et.al,

“Effects of shell and calcium carbonate on Portland cement”. In the study, the researcher used
different amounts of shell and calcium carbonate and added in Portland cement. The compressive

strength, sulfate corrosion resistance, hydration heat, and porosity of hardened cement paste are

studied. The result of the study is as the number of shells increases, the compressive strength

decreases, nonetheless, the content of calcium carbonate increases, the strength first increases

then decreases, the compressive strength reaches the highest value of 15%. The initial hydration

reaction accelerates after the addition of shell and calcium carbonate. The corrosion resistance

coefficient and sulfate corrosion resistance increases as well. The effect of shell and calcium

carbonate can improve the strength of concrete.

Furthermore, a study made by Chou-Fu Liang and Hung-Yu Wang about the feasibility

of pulverized oyster shell as a cementing material. The study focus to the potential of pulverized

oyster shell, which is rich in calcium, when mixed in soil. There are two soil made to study the

strength variance, the cylindrical compacted soil and cubic lime specimens with different

proportion of shells and fly ash. The soil, F-type fly ash and lime are mixed in different weigh

percentages. There are 5 sample group in order to study the compressive strength of soil and lime

specimen. The result shows that when the shell quantity increases, the strength of the block

decreases in both soil and lime specimens. In 56-days of curing, the compressive strength

increases in lime cube containing fly ash while the shells get a little amount of strength. As a

result, the mixtures of the shell and the fly ash do not help to increase the strength of the soil.

Local

According to Donato,M. , Guevara,D. and Tayum,C. (2015) made a study et.al, “concrete

blocks out of rice husk ash and corn cob ash”. This study was made to know if the corn cob ash

and rice husk ash can affect in making concrete blocks and to compare the compressive strength
of the concrete block to other concrete block. The study showed that concrete block with rice

husk ash and corn cob ash got the highest compressive strength than the standard compressive

strength of concrete blocks.

Manginsay and Guinita-Cabahug made a study about the chicken feathers as substitute

for fine aggregates in concrete. This study was made to determine the viability of chicken

feathers as a substitute for making concrete and to know the compressive strength of concrete by

using fine aggregates out of chicken feathers. The study showed that the compressive strength of

concrete used by fine aggregates out of chicken feather achieved a compressive strength of 12.61

Mpa which has the value of Type S mortar cement of ASTM C270-91 standard specification that

covers mortars for use in the construction of non-reinforced and reinforced structures, the results

of this study satisfied the minimum compressive strength of Types N and O mortar cement of

ASTM C270-91 standard.

On the other hand, the researchers investigated the viability and compressive strength of

chicken feathers as substitute for fine aggregates in concrete. The researchers mixed the chicken

feathers to six replacement levels of 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% and placed each batch

of the mix in 2 inch cubes of concrete specimens. The researchers used samples that are, cement

type used in the researchers study is a type IP - portland-pozzoland-cement that is a intimate and

uniform blend of portland cement portland or blast-furnace slag cement and fine pozzolan, and

the chicken feathers that are used were from the common 45-day old broiler chicken. The size of

each specimens that were used is 5. 08 x 5.08 x 5.08 centimeters or has a volume of 131.10 cm3.

The researchers produced batches of specimens and the component, the specimens were grouped

by 3 according to the number of days of curing (7 days group, 14 days groups and 28 days

group),on the first batch of mixture were cement, fine aggregate, and water only and the rest of
the mixture composed of cement, fine aggregates, chicken feathers and water of different

percentage level. The results shown on the weight of the block shows that reduction of it might

be affected by different densities of chicken feathers and fine aggregates while on the results on

compressive strength of concrete blocks mixed with chicken feathers shows that increase in

compressive strengths of specimens is relative to the increase of the numbers of days of curing.

SYNTHESIS

Based on the studies presented it gives information to the researcher on how asian clams

can be used as an additive in making concrete blocks. In the past studies, it is stated that the

Asian clams' shells has a component called calcium carbonate that can make the concrete blocks

stronger due to the process called carbonation. In this process, when water and the cement dries

up, it hardens the concrete blocks.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Scientificamerican.com.(2006).How are shells created. Retrieved in

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-are-seashell-created/

 Turgut, P. Yahlizalde, E.S. Research in concrete blocks with waste glass, Vol. 3; No. 3.

2009
 Chestofbooks.com.Properties of concrete blocks-strength retrieved in

http://www.chestofbooks.com/reference/Henley-20th-Century-formulas-Recipe-

Processes-Vol.3 /Properties-of-concrete-block-8212-strength.html

 Weng,G.Lu,L.Wang,S.The effect of shell and calcium carbonate on properties of

Portland cement.Advanced Materials Research.Jan.2012.495-498.

 Nas.er.usgs.gov.Corbicula flumea.(1.8.16.)http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet

.aspx?speciesid=92.

 Donato, M. Guevara,D.Tayum,C.Rice husk ash and Corn cob ash as an additive in

making green concrete blocks.Advanced Materials Research.Feb2015.

 Liang,C.F.,Wang,H.Y.Feasibility of pulverized Oyster shell as a cementing

material.Advanced material in science and Engineering.Volume 2013(2013).

ArticleID.809247.7pages.
 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the research procedure and research design. it also discusses the

research instruments, tools and equipments that are going to use in conducting the experiment.

Research Design

This study will use single group design because it includes one treatment with three

levels to compare the tensile strength of the Asian Clams to the Commercialize Concrete blocks.

Research Instruments, Tools and Equipments

The following materials, Tools and equipments were use by the researcher:

 Trowel  1 ½ kg Cement

 2 ½ kg Asian Clams ash  Measuring cups

 1 kg of Sand  Molder (2x2 inches)

 Mortar and Pestle

Research Procedure

The following steps are use in order to make a green concrete block.

1. Gathering of materials

The researcher will collect Asian clams to South Fairway, Landayan, San Pedro, Laguna.
2. Preparation of ash

The researcher will crush the Asian clams by using Mortar and Pestle the until it turns in

to powder.

3. Preparation of the mixtures

The researcher will prepare 1 ½ kg of cement, 1 kg of sand, 3 bottles filled with water, 2

½ kg crushed Asian clams.

4. Making the concrete block

In making the concrete block the following steps should be taken:

a.) Put 3 cups of crushed Asian clams, 1 cup of water, 2 cups of cement and 1 cup of

sand in a container and mix it well.

b.) After mixing, put the mixture in a molder.

c.) Place a wood on top of the molder and turn it upside down. Remove the molder and

let it dry.

Table 1. Mix proportion

Set-up Cement Sand Asian clams Method of

(Parts) (Parts) (Parts) making

1 50% 75% 25% Mixing all

together

2 75% 25% 50% Mixing all

together

3 25% 50% 75% Mixing all

together
 5. Testing the block

The researcher will send the Asian clams concrete blocks to Department of Science and

Technology (DOST) at Los, Ba𝑛̃os, Laguna for the testing of its tensile strength.

6. Comparing of the concrete block with commercialize concrete block

The researcher will compare the result of the Asian clams’ concrete block to

commercialize concrete block.

Risk and Safety

In conducting the study, “Asian clams (Corbicula flumea) as an additive for concrete

block”, the researcher will follow this risk and safety precaution:

 Make sure that the working place is always clean

 Handle the tools and equipments with care.

 Wear protective equipments such as gloves and mask.