Utilization of pulverized pili nut shell as partial replacement to fine aggregates in concrete paving blocks/ Mark Jun C. Barlita, Arthel E. Cordova, Kerslyn May Latagan, Mary Rose C. Maguiat, and Jimboy A. Talban .--

Bachelor's thesis

College of Industrial Technology .-- Bachelor of Engineering Technology major in Construction Technology: Technological University of the Philippines, 2025.

Includes bibliographic references and index.

The study examines the feasibility of producing concrete paving blocks by substituting
ground pili nut shells for a portion of fine particles. Appropriate mix designs for the
concrete paving blocks were developed with varying ratios of pili nutshells: 0%, 5%, 10%,
15%, and 20%. The dimensions of the concrete blocks were standardized at 10x20x8 cm.
Due to the unavailability of a crushing machine, pili nutshells were manually crushed for
use in this research. The primary objective was to evaluate the impact of replacing fine
particles with pili nutshells on the concrete paving blocks' physical and mechanical
properties, strength, and durability. Various mixed proportions of pulverized pili nutshells
and fine aggregates were tested through a series of experiments. The results revealed that
incorporating pili nutshells enhanced specific properties of the concrete, including
improved compressive strength and increased sustainability. The study suggests the
potential application of pili nutshells in other construction materials, such as concrete
hollow blocks or fiberboard, as an innovative additive. This research highlights the
potential of utilizing agricultural waste, such as pili nutshells, as a sustainable and effective
alternative to traditional fine aggregates. It offers a novel solution for concrete paving
applications while promoting environmental sustainability. The results of the conducted
evaluation indicated a high level of excellence for the prototype, with an overall mean score
of 4.53 on the descriptive scale. The study paves the way for future research into using
agricultural byproducts in concrete production, contributing to a more sustainable and
circular economy.

Keywords: agricultural waste, alternative, concrete paving blocks, fine aggregates, partial
replacement, pulverized pili nutshell, strength, sustainability