Water Absorption and Compressive Strength of Paving Blocks with Saccharum officinarum

Bagasse and Crushed Perna canaliculus

Shells as Additive Materials

Research Paper Presented to the

Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering (STE) Program

Passi National High School

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for Completion

in Junior High School

Tristan Louize T. Galeno

Ashlie Vallerie P. Homdos

Samantha Nichole F. Paulite

Researchers
 Chapter 1

Introduction of the Study

This chapter is divided into five parts: (1) Background and Theoretical Framework of the

Study, (2) Statement of the Problem and the Hypothesis, (3) Significance of the Study, (4)

Definition of Terms, and (5) Delimitation of the Study.

Part One, Background and Theoretical Framework of the Study, explains the

Need for conducting the study presents the theoretical framework.

Part Two, Statement of the Problem and Hypothesis, recognizes the questions

which the study aims to answer and the hypothesis to be tested.

Part Three, Significance of the Study, identifies the individuals, groups, or organizations

that can benefit from the study's results and explains how the study's findings can help them.

Part Four, Definition of Terms, provides both the conceptual and operational definitions

of key terminologies.

Part Five, Delimitation of the Study, provides information on the scope and limitations of

the current study.

 Background of the Study

Pollution has always been a major problem, not only to our country but all around the

globe. According to the Senate of The Philippines (SEPO) Publications (2017), the Philippines'

waste output is increasing in tandem with population expansion, improved living standards, rapid

economic growth, and industrialization, particularly in metropolitan areas. The NSWMC

determined that the country's trash creation climbed consistently from 37,427.46 tons per day in

2012 to 40,087.45 tons in 2016, with an estimated average per capita waste generation of 0.40

kg per day for both urban and rural areas. The presence of various solid waste is one of many

problems to the government. Some examples of solid waste that are present here in our country

are sugar cane bagasse and green lipped mussel shells. These two are considered as agricultural

and seafood waste.

Philippine Statistics Authority (2022) cites that Western Visayas remained the leading

producer with 1.25 million metric tons of sugarcane output, or 39.2 percent of total sugarcane

production. Northern Mindanao and Central Visayas followed with 27.0 percent and 14.2

percent, respectively. Not only agricultural waste has a contribution to the globe’s contamination

but marine shell wastes have become popular as a recycled material for a variety of construction

projects due to its similarities to limestone, which is similar to cement raw materials (Binag,

2018).

Paving blocks are common in urban and rural communities. Paving blocks are very easy

to make and easy to apply (Mudjanarko et al., 2020). Commercialized paving blocks are often

accessible at construction materials stores; nonetheless, according to the researchers’ findings,

paving blocks are 10% to 15% more expensive than concrete; however, what distinguishes

paving blocks from concrete is their durability (Graham, 2022). Paving blocks are formed of a
number of materials, including brick (clay), concrete, flagstone, marble, travertine, porcelain,

rubber, and even plastic, and are used to make roads, patios, and pool decks, among other things.

For such tasks, they can be a very suitable concrete option.

Sugar cane fiber, also known as bagasse, is basically a major by-product of cane sugar

production and can be used as fuel source and can be particularly valuable in building because it

may improve crack control and ductility in fragile concrete. Rajkumar et al. (2016) also noted

that it is possible for sugarcane bagasse ash to be used as cement replacement material to

improve the quality and reduce the cost of construction materials such as mortar, concrete

pavers, concrete roof, and soil cement interlocking block.

The calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content of marine shells, which includes the green-

lipped mussel, exceeds 90% and is equivalent to the limestone dust used in the manufacturing of

Portland cement contains calcium carbonate. Seashell crystal formations are mostly made up of

calcite and aragonite, both of which have higher strengths and densities than limestone powder

which will reduce the amount of cement in making the paving tiles (Ravi et al., 2017).

Furthermore, according to Baylon et al. (2017), using oyster shells in making bricks would be

much more economical and environmental. It can lessen the amount of discarded oyster shells

and it could also help reduce the cost of bricks compared to the ones with synthetic and

chemically manufactured ingredients.

In order to reduce the value of paving tiles and to be of service in reducing the Earth’s

contamination, the researchers will conduct a study that will make use of bagasse and crushed

green shells as additive materials in making paving blocks.

 Paradigm of the Study

Independent Variables Dependent Variables

Paving blocks containing 1 1/2 cup

cement + 1 cup washed sand + 1 1/4 cup

water in the following proportions of

Saccharum officinarum bagasse + crushed

Perna canaliculus shells

TA - 100% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse

TB - 100% Crushed Perna canaliculus

Water Absorption and
Shells
Compressive Strength of Paving
TC -50% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse, 50%
Blocks
Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells

TD -75% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse, 25%

Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells

TE -75% Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells ,

25% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse

(+) Control - Paving Blocks with 1 1/2 cup

cement + 1 cup washed sand + 1 1/4 cup

water

Figure 1. Shows the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variables of

the study.
 Statement of the Problem

This research proposal aims to determine the water absorption and compressive strength

of the paving blocks with Saccharum officinarum bagasse and crushed Perna canaliculus shells.

Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the water absorption and compressive strength of the paving blocks from the different

proportions of crushed Perna canaliculus shells and Saccharum officinarum bagasse?

2. Is there a significant difference in the water absorption and compressive strength of the paving

blocks from the different proportions of crushed Perna canaliculus shells and Saccharum

officinarum bagasse?

Hypothesis

In view of the preceding problems, the null hypothesis is advanced to be tested:

There will be no significant difference in the water absorption and compressive strength

of the paving blocks from the different proportions of crushed Perna canaliculus shells and

Saccharum officinarum bagasse.

 Significance of the Study

The results of this study will be beneficial to the following:

Community. The outcome of the study will benefit future projects involving paving tiles,

such as sidewalks and courtyards. It will benefit the community by reducing the amount of

money that will be used in purchasing paving tiles due to the use of crushed Perna canaliculus

shells and Saccharum officinarum bagasse as additive materials.

Department of Public Works and Highways. The outcome of the study will benefit

projects that include paving tiles such as side walks. The quantity of paving tiles that will be used

for future projects will increase since the price of the paving tiles with crushed Perna canaliculus

shells and Saccharum officinarum bagasse is cheap and affordable.

Environment. The outcome of the study will benefit the environment by reducing the

pollution caused by burning bagasse, which harms the environment. In order to lessen the

pollution caused by burning bagasse, this study will make use of bagasse as one of the additive

materials for making paving tiles.

Homeowners. The outcome of the study will benefit the essential knowledge about the

possiblities of improving the appearance of their properties by employing pavement tiles with

crushed Perna canaliculus shells and Saccharum officinarum bagasse.

Paving Block Makers. The outcome of the study will benefit and give them a broader

range of alternatives for increasing the overall quality of their product for their

own advantage and the benefit of the general public, as well as reducing the quantity of cement

and washed sand purchased in the process of creating paving tiles.

 Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined conceptually and operationally for the better

understanding of the study.

Cement. It is a powder of alumina, silica, lime, iron oxide, and magnesium oxide burned

together in a kiln and finely pulverized and used as an ingredient of mortar and concrete

(Merriam-Webster,2022).

In this study, it refers to the commercial cement that will be mixed with the different

proportions of Saccharuim officinarum bagasse, crushed Perna canaliculus shells and washed

sand.

Compressive strength. It refers to the maximum compressive stress that under gradually

applied load a given solid material will sustain without fracture (Merriam-Webster, 2022).

In this study, it refers also to the capacity of the paving blocks to withstand axially

directed pushing forces through the use of Universal Testing Machine (UTM) to determine the

compressive strength.

Paving Blocks. It is a vitrified clay brick slightly larger than building brick and used in

the construction of pavement surfaces (Merriam-Webster, 2022).

In this study, it refers to the rectangular bricks with three different treatments and

compared against commercial paving tiles in terms impact resistance and tensile strength.

Perna Canaliculus. It refers to a species of bivalve shellfish that is endemic to New

Zealand to which has a solid demonstrated evidence of providing health benefits (Whitehouse et

al., 1997).

In this study, Perna canaliculus refers to the additive materials used as an alternative in

making paving tiles.

 Saccharum Officinarum bagasse. Sugarcane bagasse is a fibrous material containing

cellulose as its main component. It is produced in large quantities across the world. It is a kind of

waste material that comes from the sugar industry (Mahmud & Anannya, 2021)

In this study, Saccharum officinarum bagasse refers to the additive materials used as an

alternative in making paving tiles.

Sand. It refers to a loose granular material that results from the disintegration of rocks,

consists of particles smaller than gravel but coarser than silt, and is used in mortar, glass,

abrasives, and foundry molds (Merriam-Webster, 2022).

In this study, sand is also referred to as washed sand which is one of the ingredients that

will be mixed with the bagasse, cement and crushed Perna Canaliculus shells in order to make

paving tiles.

Water absorption. Water absorption is defined as the quantity of water absorbed by a

substance and is measured as the weight of water absorbed divided by the weight of the dry

material (Siddique & Mehta, 2020).

In this study, it refers also to the capacity of the paving tiles to absorb water.

Delimitation of the Study

This study aims to determine whether there is a significant difference in the water

absorption and compressive strength of the paving blocks with 100% Saccharum officinarum

Bagasse + 1 cup of washed sand + 1 1/2 cups of cement + 1 1/4 cups of water; 100% Crushed

Perna canaliculus Shells + 1 cup of washed sand + 1 1/2 cups of cement + 1 1/4 cups of water;

50% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse + 50% Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells + 1 cup of

washed sand + 1 1/2 cups of cement + 1 1/4 cups of water; 75% Saccharum officinarum
Bagasse + 25% Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells + 1 cup of washed sand + 1 1/2 cups of

cement + 1 1/4 cups of water; 75% Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells + 25% Saccharum

officinarum Bagasse + 1 cup of washed sand + 1 1/2 cups of cement + 1 1/4 cups of water; 1 1/2

cup cement + 1 cup washed sand + 1 1/4 cup water.

This study will be conducted at Galeno’s Residence, Commonwealth Drive, Passi City,

Iloilo.

Passi City lacks an equipment capable of determining the compressive strength of each

paving block. For this reason, the researchers will conduct the compressive strength test at

DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) in Iloilo City.

 Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

Chapter Two includes the following topics:(1)Paving Blocks, (2)Saccharum

officinarum, (3) Perna canaliculus.

Part One, Paving Blocks, explains the uses of paving blocks and how it can benefit the

people.

Part Two, Saccharum officinarum, gives information about Saccharum officinarum.

Part Three, Perna canaliculus, gives information about Perna canaliculus.

Part Four, Related Studies, discusses some other topics related to our study.

Paving Blocks

Block paving is one of the most popular flexible pavement surfacing options. It is made

from various materials (concrete, clay, recycled plastic etc.) but most commonly used are clay

and concrete (Nar, 2018).

People nowadays prefer paving block compared to other pavement such as concrete or

asphalt. Their interest toward the use of paving block increase because paving block is an eco-

friendly construction which is very useful in helping soil water conservation, can be done faster,

has easier installation and maintenance, has a variety of shades that increase the aesthetic value,

also costs cheaper than the other (Hastuty & Nursyamsi, 2018).

Paving blocks can be used at residential as well as commercial premises. It can be used

in any weather conditions. The most important advantage of paver blocks is that they can be

easily replaced. If one of the blocks gets damaged, it can be easily removed and replaced with

another one (Pai, 2021). Paving blocks are durable and available in a wide variety of shapes,
colors, and textures. They can as a result of these characteristics, be employed for many different

purposes. Pavers can be used to create driveways, patios and walkways. Retaining walls, raised

beds, and other yard features can be built using paving blocks (Hanson, 2022).

The paving block have various advantages, such as low maintenance, durable and hard-

wearing, highly versatile, more environment-friendly, safe, easy to install, quick to repair, and

cost-effective. Paving blocks only require low maintenance because it does not need polish on

top surface of the paver and it will not need to repaint in the future. Paving blocks are durable

and hard-wearing because it can withstand any type of vehicle load and pedestrian traffic with

low maintenance. Because of its durability, it is expected to last reliably for at least 20 years.

Paving blocks are highly versatile because it has a unique quality to interlock with each other due

to large availability of various shapes. Due to its wide variety of design, colour, and thickness of

paving blocks, it makes it suitable for both domestic and commercial applications including

patio, driveway, sidewalk, pool deck, parking areas etc. It is more environment-friendly than

solid plain surfaces because it prevent rainwater from gathering or flooding, allowing you to

create better drainage system on your patio or driveway. The safety of paving blocks is

determined when it is wet or in monsoon season since it is slip resistant and skid resistant.

Paving blocks are quick to install because there is no use of any heavy machinery or equipment,

and it is in around 3 to 4 days. The most important advantage of paving blocks is that it can

easily be repaired and replaced because compared to asphalt, and or concrete pavement and no

heavy machinery is used for repairing or replacing of the block. If one block is damaged or

stained with oil, diesel or petrol spillages, paving blocks can be easily removed and replaced

with new one. Paving blocks are cost-effective because of the mass production, it has reduced

the price of paving blocks and made it easily affordable (Nar, 2018).
 Paving blocks are used worldwide in streets, driveways, sidewalks and squares, mainly

because of their resistance to movement and breakage, durability and aesthetically pleasing

surfaces (Uygunoglu et al., 2012, Costa et al., 2014). These features result in longer pavement

life, reduced maintenance costs and extended replacement cycle, while conserving the use of raw

materials. Moreover, paving blocks eliminate storm water runoff and conserve land, may be

produced using local materials, labor and recycled content, that reduce energy requirements and

carbon footprint (Scholz and Grabowiecki, 2007, ICPI, 2015), making possible their integration

into municipal green infrastructure and low impact development programs. In addition, light

colored pavers are cooler than conventional asphalt and help to reduce urban temperatures and

improve air quality (USEPA, 2015).

Due to the growing and widespread use of paving blocks throughout the world,

associated with the need for reducing consumption of natural resources and production costs,

researchers have focused on incorporating different wastes as alternative materials Ganjian et al.

(2015).

Saccharum officinarum

Saccharum officinarum, also known as sugar cane, is a perennial plant that can grow up

to 20 feet tall and tillers at the base to create a number of robust unbranched and jointed stems. It

is a member of the Poaceae (grass) family’s Andropogoneae tribe. Modern sugarcane cultivars

are mostly the result of interspecific hybridizations between Saccharum species (Simmonds,

1676; Daniels and Roach, 1987). Sugar cane is cultivated in countries with latitudes between the

equator’s latitudes of 36.7°N and 31.0°S. The crop thrives best in places with uniformly

distributed rainfall throughout the growing season, extended sunshine hours, and no rain during
the preharvest ripening phase. Sugarcane is one of the top ten most planted crops in the planet.

Worldwide, almost one billion tons are extracted each year (Ahfeld, 1966).

The fibrous residue left behind after sugarcane stalks are crushed for sugar extraction is

what we call bagasse. Bagasse is a kind of plant fiber, it is the fibrous material left over from the

processing of sugarcane, sorghum, or agave. It is also regarded as bio-waster. Bagasse is often

discarded, with the option of allowing it to decompose or burning it, which might be problematic

due to air pollution. Bagasse, on the other hand, may be useful since it is used as a fuel source of

sugar mills, used to make paper, and can

even be utilized to make construction materials and consumer items owing to its benefits

(Brownell, 2020).

According to the study conducted by Yahya et al. (2015) on the usage of sugarcane

bagasse as an additive in building materials, stated that the sugarcane bagasse were blended and

mixed with 30MPa concrete with certain ratio and tested for compressive, flexural, water

absorption and penetration. From the tests, it shows that the sugarcane bagasse gives a positive

impact to concrete. Therefore, the usage of sugarcane bagasse can be considered as a concept of

utilizing waste material for sustainable approach.

According to a study conducted by Zapanta et al. (2019) the researchers combined the

ash of the fibrous materials which are the Saccharum officinarum bagasse and Cocos nucifera

Husk in order to improve the compressive strength of the concrete hollow blocks. The results

shows that hollow blocks with 500g SCBA and 500g CHA is greater by 185 units than the

commercial concrete hollow blocks, the latter only having 68.67 units of compressive strength. A

study from Kumator Taku (2012) also states that Saccharum officinarum Bagasse ash helps

improve the compressive strenth of concrete hollow blocks.

Perna Canaliculus

Perna Canaliculus (Green-lipped mussel) is a New Zealand native with a difficult life

cycle. They can live in the wild for several years and grow to a shell length of 20 cm or more,

however most are reproductively active by the time they reach 4-5 cm (NIWA, n.d.). Green

lipped mussels contain a high concentration of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which can be

employed in the formulation of medicine, construction, or as a filler in polymer materials. These

shells are composed of 95% calcium carbonate , with the remainder containing organic materials

and other compounds3. The improper disposal of solid waste from shellfish farms diminishes

water oxygen and microalgae, both of which are crucial for mussel and oyster nutrition, hence

inhibiting shellfish growth (Hamester et al., 2012).

Mussels are grown for a further 9–12 months before they are harvested. Mussel barges,

which harvest the mussels, are highly mechanised and contain equipment for removing mussels

from lines, then declumping, washing, sorting and packing them. There are challenges when it

comes to mussel farming, such as unpredictable spat supply, resettlement of spat away from

nursery lines, predation of spat by fish, organisms other than mussels (seaweeds, sea squirts and

so on) fouling longlines, and accumulation of toxins within mussels (Trottier, 2015). Because

most farmed green-lipped mussels are grown from wild spat, farmed and wild mussels are not

distinct populations. Many aspects of their life cycle and living conditions are identical – both

farmed and wild mussels feed on phytoplankton and mate by means of broadcast spawning. Both

are susceptible to predation, infestation by parasites and accumulation of toxins (Jeffs, 2015).

According to the study on the physical and mechanical properties of concrete containing

green mussel shell ash as an admixture which was conducted by Ismail et al. (2019) stated that

the high calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content in the mussel shell served as filler within the pores
of the hardened concrete. Furthermore, the concrete specimens containing the mussel shell ash

(GMSA2) demonstrated higher compressive strengths when compared to the control specimen.

Some previous studies in New Zealand have measured the concentrations of chemicals in

tissues from marine organisms, few to date have developed biomarkers of contaminant exposure.

In the current study attempts were made to develop biomarkers for heavy metal contamination in

the endemic New Zealand greenshell mussel Perna Canaliculus (Whyte, 2021).

Related Studies

According to the study conducted by Handayasari et al. (2018) entitled “Utilizing waste

plastic bottles of mineral water and green shells as mixture of paving blocks”, waste plastic

bottles of mineral water and green shells can be used as an alternative in making paving blocks.

The purpose of this study is to reduce the use of natural materials in meeting the needs of

construction materials by utilizing waste plastic bottles of mineral water and green mussel shell

waste as substitutes for making paving blocks. Based from the test results, it was determined

that the mixture with the optimum mixture variation of 10% plastic bottle waste + 10% shell

waste had a compressive strength value of 12.8 Mpa and the percentage of water absorption at

the age of 49 days was 1.94%, making it suitable for usage as one of the most environmentally

friendly alternative building materials.

Another study conducted by Rajkumar, et. al. (2016) on the use of bagasse ash paver

blocks in low volume traffic road pavement, the usage of bagasse ash leads to far lesser

environmental hazard than conventional concrete, which leads to reduce the pollution and global

warming. In addition, it shows the economical benefit in terms of construction and maintenance

cost by replacing cement with bagasse ash in concrete paver blocks.

 Arellano, et al. (2022) from De La Salle University Integrated School (Manila)

conducted a study on the utilization of green mussels shell powder's fire retardant property as an

additive for water-based paint. The researchers devised an experimental design based on Taguchi

Orthogonal Array with four three-level factors to find the effect of varying multiple factors

(amount of coating, additive concentration, burning time during additive preparation, and particle

size) on the weight loss of plywood sheets coated with modified paint subject to fire exposure.

Weight loss of material is the indicator of fire retardancy of the coating. The variables result in

an average weight loss of 0.41641%, which is the minimum average across all runs. As a result,

mussel shell powder additive yielded greater flame retardation compared to the baseline and has

the potential to be fire retardant due to its calcium carbonate composition.

According to the study conducted by Ismail et al. (2019) on the properties of concrete

containing mussel shell ash as an admixture, the high calcium content in the mussel shells

provide additional calcium to the concrete mixture and will produce better concrete compared to

normal concrete. The study tested the compressive strength, tensile strength, and capillary

absorption on the hardened concrete that contained the green mussel shell ash mix right after 7,

28, and 60 curing days. As a result, the addition of the mussel shell ash has improved the

mechanical properties of the hardened concrete based from the tests.

 Chapter 3

Research Design and Methodology

This chapter is composed of three parts: (1) Purpose of the study and Research Design,

(2) Methods and (3) Statistical Data Analysis Procedures.

Part one, Purpose of the study and Research Design , highlights the study's objective, as

well as the research strategy and variables employed in the study.

Part two, Methods, covers the study's subject, materials and apparatus, data gathering

instrument, and procedure.

Part three, Data Analysis Procedure, describes the processes followed in the

investigation's conduct, reports on the scoring procedure, and the statistical analysis used to

evaluate the hypothesis.

Purpose of the Study and Research Design

The main purpose of this study is to determine the compressive strength, and water

absorption of different treatments made from crushed Perna canaliculus, Saccharum officinarum

bagasse, washed sand and cement.

The independent variables of the study are the different treatments to be tested and the

dependent variable are the compressive strength and water absorption of the hardened mixture.

This research study will utilize the experimental research design with three treatments

done in three replications.

 Methods

Materials

This experimental study will utilize the following materials: Saccharum officinaum

bagasse, crushed Perna canaliculus shells, washed sand, cement, plywood, nails, hammer,

measuring cup, water, shovel, and weighing [Link] study will be conducted at Galeno’s

Residence, Commonwealth Drive, Passi City, Iloilo, under the supervision of Victor A.

Talabucon, a retired EPP teacher.

Procedure

There will be 5 phases in making the paving blocks from Saccharum officinarum

bagasse and crushed Perna canaliculus shells as additive Materials. The following are the

phases: Phase 1: Gathering of Materials, Phase 2: Preparation of Materials, Phase 3: Making of

Paving Blocks, Phase 4: Compressive Strength and Water Absorption Testing Phase 5:

Disposing of Materials.

Phase 1. Gathering of Materials

The researchers will gather Saccharum officinarum bagasse at the Central Azucarera de

San Antonio (CASA). The Perna canaliculus shells will be gathered from Brgy. Man-it, Passi

City. The washed sand will be bought from Sta. Ana Hollow Block Corporation in Passi City,

Iloilo. The plywood, nails and cement will be bought from Steel Metal Construction Supply in

Brgy. Man-it, Passi City. The rest of the materials will be provided by the researchers.
Cement, saw, hammer, Saccharum officinarum Crushed Perna
nails, measuring tape, bagasse canaliculus shells
Plywood

Weighing scale Sifter Washed Sand

Figure 2. Materials that will be utilized in making the paving blocks.

Phase 2. Preparation of Materials

The Perna canaliculus shells will be crushed by placing them in sacks and crushing

them using a hammer. The crushed shells will then be collected after. The additives for each

treatment will be prepared for mixing and molding. The measurement of the materials for each

treatment are as follows: Treatment A, 100% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse, 1 cup of washed

sand, 1 1/2 cups of cement, and 1 1/4 cups of water; Treatment B, 100% Crushed Perna
canaliculus Shells , 1 cup of washed sand, 1 1/2 cups of cement, and 1 1/4 cups of water;

Treatment C, 50% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse, 50% Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells, 1

cup of washed sand, 1 1/2 cups of cement, and 1 1/4 cups of water; Treatment D, 75%

Saccharum officinarum Bagasse, 25% Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells, 1 cup of washed sand,

1 1/2 cups of cement, and 1 1/4 cups of water; and for Treatment E, 75% Crushed Perna

canaliculus Shells , 25% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse, 1 cup of washed sand, 1 1/2 cups of

cement, and 1 1/4 cups of water; (+) Control, Paving Blocks with 1 1/2 cup cement + 1 cup

washed sand + 1 1/4 cup water.

Table 1 shows the different treatments and their replications.

Table 1. Treatments and Replicates

Treatments :Replicates

Treatment A

100% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse : R1 : R2 : R3

Treatment B

100% Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells : R1 : R2 : R3

Treatment C

50% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse, 50% : R1 : R2 : R3

Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells

Treatment D

75% Saccharum officinarum Bagasse, 25% : R1 : R2 : R3

 Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells

Treatment E

75% Crushed Perna canaliculus Shells , 25% : R1 : R2 : R3

Saccharum officinarum Bagasse

(+) Control

(1 1/2 cup cement + 1 cup washed sand + 1 cup : R1 : R2 : R3

washed sand + 1 1/4 cup water)

Phase 3. Making of Paving Blocks

In making the paving blocks, the researchers, with the help of Victor A. Talabucon－a

retired EPP teacher will start off by creating the molders using plywood and nails. Twelve

molders will be created for the blocks that are going to be tested, and each block has a dimension

of 2x2 inches. Each molder will be divided into three so that the researchers can label each

molder and it would be easy to distinguish the blocks from the other treatments. In making the

paving blocks for the positive control, the same method will be applied, although the mixture

will not include any additives. The researchers will also create a molder in which the size is

similar to actual commercialized paving blocks, this molder will be used after the best treatment

is determined.

After creating the molders, the various proportions for each treatment will be mixed

thoroughly. The mixtures will be formed using the molders and will be left to dry under the sun.

After the mixtures will completely dry, the researchers will used a hammer to detach the blocks
from the molders. The blocks will then labeled using a marker so that the different treatments

could be easily distinguished. For each treatment, 3 replicates will be made which will be

subjected for compressive strength at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

Office Region VI and water absorption test.

Phase 4. Compressive Strength and Water Absorption Testing

In finding the compressive strength of the paving blocks, various mixtures and ratios

will be prepared and molded in cubical molds with two-inch sides. For each treatment, three

paving blocks will be brought to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Office

Region VI for testing. The UTM (Universal Testing Machine) will be used in testing the

compressive strength of the paving blocks.

In finding the compressive strength of the paving blocks, the researchers will use the

formula load divided by area. The researchers calculated the compressive strength in terms of

PSI which has the unit of lbs./in2.

In testing the water absorption of the paving blocks, the researchers will pour 2,500mL

of water inside the basin—using a beaker—and submerged the paving blocks in the water for

about 24 hours. After 24 hours, the researchers will measure the water left inside the basin using

a beaker. One treatment will be tested each day. It took the researchers one week to finish the

water absorption test.

In finding the water absorption, the researchers will use the formula: water absorption=

A-B. ‘A’ refers to the amount of water inside the basin before the blocks were placed, while ‘ B’

refers to the amount of water that remains inside the basin after the blocks will be removed.
Phase 5. Disposal of Materials

All unnecessary materials will be properly disposed so that it will not cause any harm to

the environment.

Statistical Tools

The data acquired from this study will be evaluated in order to determine whether or not

the given treatment is effective. The researchers will use appropriate statistical tools which are

the Mean, Standard Deviation, and the One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

Mean. The researchers will use this statistical tool in order to obtain the average scores

used to describe the compressive strength and water absorption of the paving blocks with

Saccharum officinarum bagasse and crushed Perna canaliculus shells as additive materials.

Standard Deviation. The researchers will use this statistical tool to measure the

dispersion of a data set relative to its mean.

ANOVA. The researchers will use this statistical tool in order to determine if there is a

significant difference on the means of the compressive strength and water absorption of the

paving blocks with Saccharum officinarum bagasse and crushed Perna canaliculus shells as

additive materials.