THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the performance and durability of coconut shell as a
coarse aggregate in concrete. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:
1. Does using coconut shell as an alternative coarse aggregate in the
concrete mix affect the workability and strength of the construction
material?
2. Can coconut shell be used as an alternative coarse aggregate in
concrete in light of the rising costs of construction materials?
3. Among the different concrete mixes, which is the most reliable in
terms of usage in the actual construction of infrastructures?

Assumptions
1. The maturity of the coconut from which the coconut shells are
obtained will not affect the result of the study.
2. The available local resources that will be used for the concrete mix in
the course of the study will not significantly affect the result of the
experiment.
3. Ambient temperature and other atmospheric conditions like humidity
will not adversely affect the outcome of the experiment.
4. The number of replications and the different methods of measurement
that will be employed will not adversely affect the result of the
experiment.

Alternative Hypothesis
There is a significant difference between concrete mix without coconut shell and
concrete mix with coconut shell as an alternative coarse aggregate in the workability,
strength and cost of the construction material.

Null Hypothesis
There is no significant difference between concrete mix without coconut shell and
concrete mix with coconut shell as an alternative coarse aggregate in the workability,
strength and cost of the construction material.

Importance of the Study

The outcome of this study is believed to be meaningful to the following:
For students, this study will open new doors to possibilities of researching for
other waste materials as alternatives in the ever changing tides of time. As innovations
and advancements are continuously developed, this will help them broaden their
knowledge and will push them to boundaries of seeking sustainability for the betterment
of the society. This study will help them promote a different approach in solving recent
problems in the country.
For the government, national and local, this will help them make the best use of
the available resources. As natural resources are continuously depleted, the study will aid
them in pursuing research studies for the utilization of by-products produced in the

industries. Rapid industrialization is occurring and the need for alternatives to meet the
increasing demand of the society and to meet the standard of living of the people must be
put into perspective. Also, production of waste is increasing day by day. This study will
help them address the ongoing battle against waste minimization and disposal. In the ever
increasing costs of construction materials, this study will help them in considering the use
of alternatives for the construction of functional but low-cost infrastructures.
For the environmental organizations and agencies, this study will aid them in their
campaign towards environmental consideration and the promotion of waste materials as
alternative composite materials. This will also help them in encouraging people to be
more environmentally aware, expanding their knowledge towards sustainability and
conservation.
For businessmen and companies, this study will help them open new business
ventures to take advantage of the wastes produced by rapid industrialization. This will
also open new job opportunities for people who are seeking employment. This will have a
double effect of utilizing wastes and providing solutions to unemployment in the society.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The study focuses on the performance and durability of coconut shell as a coarse
aggregate in concrete. All composite materials except the coarse aggregate in the
conventional concrete are held constant. The scope of the research will focus in the local
area, specifically in the city of General Santos. Materials that will be used in the study
will be obtained in the said locality. The study will be composed of 60 experimental

subjects namely the concrete mixes in the course of the experiment. Some measurements
and assumptions were made as a consideration for the proper undertaking of the study.
The study is delimited on the workability, strength and cost of concrete with
coconut shell as an alternative coarse aggregate. The study does not intend to create a
general notion in the usage of coconut shells as alternatives in the making of concrete.
The study only seeks to determine the potential of coconut shells as alternative coarse
aggregates in concrete for the construction of low-cost infrastructures.