Investigation on fired animal bones as aggregate replacement in concrete

Author(s): J.K. Makunza
Paper category: Workshop
Book title: RILEM International workshop on performance-based specification and control of concrete durability
Editor(s): D. Bjegović, H. Beushausen, M. Serdar
ISBN: 978-2-35158-135-3
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-136-0
Pages: 401 - 408
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: 
In Tanzania there are a lot of animals which are used as meat food like cows, goats, sheep and many wild animals. Some of the animal bones from kitchen waste are just thrown in garbage bins and pits causing uncleanness to the environment. Therefore there is a need to look into how can the bones be utilized beneficially by replacing fine and coarse aggregates in making concrete that can offer sufficiently strong and good quality constructions. In this study, bones were thus collected from open air disposals, cleaned, then fired, and after cooling they were crushed into fine and coarse aggregates. Results for aggregate crushing value test (ACV) showed that the bone aggregates are suitable for use in making concrete. In additional to that, four different mixes of cement, sand, fine bones, coarse aggregates and coarse bones were prepared and specimens were cast and tested at an age of 28 days for the compressive strength. The obtained results have shown that a replacement of 50% for both sand and coarse aggregates is the optimum and gives as high strength as 50% more than normal concrete mixes.

Online publication: 2013
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00