CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES

This chapter presents the descriptive information about the raw materials and equipment

used in order to attain the desired information of this research. This also include the various

techniques that were used to gather the data needed, the procedures for experimental research

and parameters that were used.

RESEARCH METHOD

The evaluation of the effectiveness of pulverized snail shell as fine aggregate additive to

concrete. Different amount of snail shell percentage were mixed into the mixture of concrete.

The experimental method was used to gather and collect data and also to analyze the data.

RAW MATERIALS

The raw materials used in the study are presented in Plate No. 1,2, and 3 as a sample for the

experimental research.

Plate No. 1. Cemex Cement

CEMEX’s Masonry Cement consists of a mixture of Portland or blended hydraulic

cement and plasticizing materials (such as limestone, hydrated or hydraulic lime) together with

other materials introduced to enhance one or more properties. These components are
proportioned at the cement plant under controlled conditions to assure product consistency. The

researchers bought Cemex Cement at Golden Coin Alangilan Construction Supply.

Plate No. 2. Fine and Coarse Aggregates

Aggregates are inert granular materials such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone that,

along with water and cement, are an essential ingredient in concrete. For a good concrete mix,

aggregates need to be clean, hard, strong particles free of absorbed chemicals or coatings of

clay and other fine materials that could cause the deterioration of concrete.  The researchers

used Lobo sand bought from Golden Coin Alangilan Construction Supply because based on the

study of Ilustre, M.A.S. et. Al.(2013), Lobo sand has the highest quality among all types of sand

in Batangas City. Fine aggregate is natural sand which has been washed and coarse aggregate

is gravel which has been crushed and washed.

Plate No. 3. Black Terebra snail shell

 These are long slender glossy shells. Black Terebras snail shells are found across the

Indo-Pacific region, living in intertidal zones. One Black Terebra snail shells approximately 1 to

2 inch. Terebra shells belong to the large family of sea snails. Terebra's are typically shaped like

slender augers or screws; scientific name: Terebridae family Turritellidae. The researchers

obtain the samples of Black Terebra shell from the Sta. Rita Aplaya, Batangas City and

pulverized them manually at Batangas State University Main Campus II, Alangilan Batangas

City.

APPARATUS USED

The apparatus used in the study are presented in Plate No. 4 and 5 as a sample for the

experimental research.

Plate No. 4. Sieve No. 10

Sieve is a metallic plate or sheet, a woven wire cloth, or other similar device, with

regularly spaced apertures of uniform size, mounted in a suitable frame or holder, for use in

separating material according to size
 Plate No. 5. Universal Testing Machine

The Universal Testing Machines allows you to select the maximum force, the testing

space and the type of accessories that you need for your different tests. These testing machines

can be modified to fit any application. Universal Testing Machine in the Construction and

Material Testing Laboratory at Batangas State University Main Campus II, Alangilan Batangas

City was used in determining the compressive strength and flexural strength of concrete.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The researchers did the experimental study at the Soil Lab/ Construction Materials and

Testing Laboratory of Batangas State University Alangilan Campus, Alangilan,Batangas City.

They used three sets of cylinder and three sets of rectangular mold with each specimen

prepared for 14 days of age.

The tests were done in accordance with ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials

Specifications. They are as follows:

ASTM C 39 – Test for Compressive strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimen

This test method covers the procedure for the compression tests of molded concrete cylinders.

ASTM C 78 – Test on Flexural strength of Concrete Beam Specimen

This test method is used to determine the flexural strength of specimens prepared and cured.
 Table 1 shows the quantity of the samples used in determining the strength of concrete

with the replacement of sand.

Table 1

Number of Concrete Cylindrical Specimen with Varying Amount of Snail Shell as

Substitute to Sand

Percentage of Snail Shell Age of Concrete

14 Days Total
5% 3 3
8% 3 3
10% 3 3
Total 9 9
It can be seen from Table 1 that nine (9) samples were tested. In fourteen (14) days of

age, nine(9) cylindrical specimens were tested with 3 different ratios of snail shell.

Table 2

Number of Concrete Beam Specimen With Varying Amount of Snail Shell as Substitute

to Sand

Percentage of Snail Shell Age of Concrete

14 Days Total
10% 3 3
15% 3 3
20% 3 3
Total 9 9

PROCEDURES IN PREPARING SAMPLES AND TESTING

The following procedures were followed:

Pulverizing the Snail Shell

1. Place the entire dried sample in a sack.

2. Crush the snail shells through dropping a broken concrete cylinder.

 3. Thoroughly crush the shells with the use of a hammer and a metal sheet until

pulverized.

Mixing Concrete

1. Weigh out desired proportions for the different batches of concrete.

2. Put together the fine and coarse aggregates with cement then mix together.

3. Add water

4. Start mixing thoroughly until aggregates are thoroughly wet.

5. Incrementally add the rest of the coarse and fine aggregates then mix until it blends.

6. Add the desired ratio of snail shell based on the weight of the filled mold.

Curing of Specimen

After 24 hours, the specimens were removed from their molds and kept in a curing tank

for a period of 12 days. On the thirteenth day the specimens were removed from the curing tank

and then kept in a dry place.

Testing the Specimens

Using the universal testing machine, the compressive strength and flexural strength of

concrete can be determined.

Concrete Slump Test

1. Clean the internal surface of the mold and apply oil.

2. Place the mold on a smooth horizontal non- porous base plate.

3. Fill the mold with the prepared concrete mix in 4 approximately equal layers.
 4. Tamp each layer with 25 strokes of the rounded end of the tamping rod in a uniform

manner over the cross section of the mold. For the subsequent layers, the tampering

should penetrate into the underlying layer.

5. Remove the excess concrete and level the surface with a trowel.

6. Clean away the mortar or water leaked out between the mould and the base plate.

7. Raise the mold from the concrete immediately and slowly in vertical direction.

8. Measure the slump as the difference between the height of the mould and that of

height point of the specimen being tested.

Compressive Strength Test

1. Prepare the testing machine by cleaning the bearing plates and, if needed, cleaning

and lubricating the spherical seat. Check the operation of the machine. Keep the previously

prepared test specimen moist by covering it with wet burlap during the period between removing

the specimen from the curing environment and testing. That applies to each specimen you will

test.

2. Determine the diameter of the test specimen to the nearest 0.01 inch by averaging

two diameters measured at right angles to each other at midheight of the cylinder. Measure the

length, including caps, to the nearest 0.1 inch. Record the dimensions on a prepared data

sheet.

3. Place the specimen on the lower bearing block, bring the upper block almost to

contact, and align the axis of the specimen with the center of thrust of the spherical head.

Carefully and slowly bring the spherical head into contact with the specimen, rotating the

movable portion gently by hand so that uniform seating is obtained. Apply the test load

continuously and without shock at a rate of 20 to 50 pounds per square inch (psi). Observe and

record the maximum load during the test. Observe the type of fracture and record any unusual

features.
 4. Calculate the compressive strength of the concrete using the following formula:

Where:

f´c = compressive strength (in psi)

P= maximum load (in pounds)

A= cross-sectional area of specimen (in inches)

Flexural Strength Test

1. Flexural tests of moist-cured specimens shall be made as soon as practical after

removal from moist storage. Surface drying of the specimen results in a reduction in the

measured flexural strength.

2. When using molded specimens, turn the test specimen on its side with respect to its

position as molded and center it on the support blocks. When using sawed specimens, position

the specimen so that the tension face corresponds to the top or bottom of the specimen as cut

from the parent material. Center the loading system in relation to the applied force. Bring the

load-applying blocks in contact with the surface of the specimen at the third points and apply a

load of between 3 and 6 % of the estimated ultimate load. Using 0.004 in. (0.10 mm) and 0.015

in. (0.38 mm) leaf-type feeler gages, determine whether any gap between the specimen and the

load-applying or support blocks is greater or less than each of the gages over a length of 1 in.

(25 mm) or more. Grind, cap, or use leather shims on the specimen contact surface to eliminate

any gap in excess of 0.004 in. (0.10 mm) in width. Leather shims shall be of uniform 1⁄4 in. (6.4

mm) thickness, 1 to 2 in. (25 to 50 mm) width, and shall extend across the full width of the

specimen. Gaps in excess of 0.015 in. (0.38 mm) shall be eliminated only by capping or

grinding. Grinding of lateral surfaces should be minimized inasmuch as grinding may change
the physical characteristics of the specimens. Capping shall be in accordance with the

applicable sections of Practice C 617.

3. Load the specimen continuously and without shock. The load shall be applied at a

constant rate to the breaking point. Apply the load at a rate that constantly increases the

extreme fiber stress between 125 and 175 psi/min (0.86 and 1.21 MPa/min) until rupture occurs.

The loading rate is calculated using the following equation: r 5 Sbd2 /L (1) where:

r = loading rate, lb/min (MN/min),

S = rate of increase in extreme fiber stress, psi/min (MPa/ min),

b = average width of the specimen, in. (mm),

d = average depth of the specimen, in. (mm), and

L = span length, in (mm).