Mechanical Properties and Fracture Patterns in Oil Palm Shell Concrete with Various Cement Types Using Digital Image Correlation

Oil Palm Shell (OPS) aggregate has emerged as an applicable alternative construction material, with promising developments observed in the Structural and Material Laboratory. Previous research has demonstrated encouraging results with the utilization of OPS and Portland Composite Cement (PCC). This study aims to compare the mechanical characteristics of concrete with OPS aggregate using three types of cement: Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Portland Pozzolan Cement (PPC), and PCC. Various tests were conducted, including concrete compressive strength tests using cubical and cylindrical samples, tensile strength tests through Brazilian splitting tests, and flexural tests. Particularly, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique was employed during the compressive strength test to monitor specimen meticulously. These tests utilized standardized in terms of specimen size and mix design, differing only in the cement type used. The results revealed that OPC cement exhibited superior mechanical characteristics and structural performance compared to PPC and PCC cement. The average compressive strength of OPC-based concrete achieved 214 kg/cm^2, approximately equivalent to 20 MPa. These findings emphasize the potential of OPS aggregate in combination with OPC cement as a viable option for constructing robust and reliable buildings.