EVALUATION OF PLANTAIN PEEL AS A COARSE AGGREGATE REPLACEMENT IN LIGHTWEIGTH CONCRETE

This study had investigated the evaluation of plantain peels through a series of laboratory experiments. This was targeted at obtaining an effective replacement in lightweight concrete while relieving the environment from the menace of environmental pollution arising from indiscriminate disposal of agricultural wastes. Plantain peels was collected from various sellers in Ado Ekiti, and then cut to small quantity and surface dry with almost four day because the weather is cool. The concrete sample were prepare with mix ratio 1:2:4(cements and plantain peels). The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of plantain peels as sustainable replacement in lightweight concrete. The plantain peels did not yield adequate strength qualities but can be satisfactorily employed as a coarse aggregate replacement in lightweight concrete because it reduces the weight of the concrete considerable for partition wall in high rise building. The observed results can be attributed to the lack of hardness in the materials, and hence, the study discourages the use of these materials for load bearing structure as they do not significantly improve the compressive strength of a concrete. From the soundness of result the plantain peels has a low density considerable to be used as a coarse aggregate in lightweight concrete for partition wall in high rise building. It is very important to note that the plantain peels must preserve with chemical to preserve it during drying process this will enhance the durability of materials. It is very important to note that the plantain peels must preserve with chemical during drying process this will enhance the durability of materials.