Published Paper Details:

Rising development activity in urban areas has basis for declining of raw materials used in construction activities. The palm oil industries often dumped palm kernel shells as waste products after the extraction of palm oil. It has been huge environmental problem due to this disposal of waste generated from palm oil industries. Present study is focused on partial replacement of coarse aggregate with Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) in Asphalt concrete. Laboratory test were carried out on aggregates, PKS and bitumen to study their properties. Softening point and Penetration value test were performed to measure consistency of bitumen. Tests on aggregates and PKS were carried out in two phases. In Phase I, physical tests such as bulk density, abrasion value, specific gravity, water absorption were conducted. In Phase II, Marshal Stability and flow value test were carried out by partial replacement of aggregate with Crushed Palm kernel shell (CPKS) in varying percentages of 5 %, 10 % and 40% and in different sizes of 10-15mm, 5-10mm, 5-15mm. The results for marshal stability tests were 15.14KN, 18.81KN, 22.97KN and flow value test were 4mm, 7mm, 12mm. Result of normal mould with 0% of CPKS replacement was 13.9KN and flow value 3.9mm. Standards set by Ministry of Road Transport Highways (MoRTH) for marshal stability test should be more than 8.2KN and maximum flow value should be 4 KN. The specific gravity of aggregates was found to be 2.51 and for CPKS 1.55. The Recommended result of specific gravity used in road construction should be less than 2.8. These test results revealed that CPKS can be used as a suitable material as partial replacement for aggregate in asphalt concrete up to 5% of size 10-15mm for rural roads of low traffic.