Strength Properties and Potentials of Concrete Produced with Crushed Cow Horns as Fine Aggregate Replacement
Authors
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan (Nigeria)
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ibadan (Nigeria)
Article Information
DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS.2026.110400025
Subject Category: Engineering & Technology
Volume/Issue: 11/4 | Page No: 392-408
Publication Timeline
Submitted: 2025-10-10
Accepted: 2025-10-16
Published: 2026-04-28
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of crushed cow horns (CCH) as a partial replacement for fine aggregates in concrete production. Six concrete mixes were prepared with varying replacement levels of sand by CCH (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%). Standard tests were conducted on fresh and hardened concrete, including slump, density, compressive strength, split-tensile strength, and flexural strength. Results show that replacement levels above 60% led to specimen failure under self-weight. At 20% and 40% replacement, compressive strength decreased by 15.74% and 16.86%, respectively, compared to the control. The study concludes that CCH has potential as a lightweight aggregate in concrete production at low replacement levels, contributing to sustainable waste management.
Keywords
Concrete, Lightweight aggregates, Crushed cow horns
Downloads
References
1. Abdullahi, I., & Attahir, M. (2014). Development and evaluation of cattle horn–plastic composite for particle board manufacturing. Proceedings of the National Conference, Faculty of Engineering, Bayero University, Kano. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
2. Abdullahi, U., & Salihi, A. (2007). Characterization and potential application of Kano cattle horn. Journal of Engineering and Technology, 6(1–2), 32–40. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
3. Adeyanju, A. A., & Manohar, K. (2011). Effects of steel fibers and iron filings on thermal and mechanical properties of concrete for energy storage applications. Journal of Minerals & Materials Characterization & Engineering, 10(15), 1429–1448. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
4. Adeyanju, E., & Manohar, V. (2011). Effect of steel fibers and iron filings on thermal and mechanical properties of concrete. Civil Engineering Dimension, 13(2), 106–112. https://doi.org/10.9744/ced.13.2.106-112 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
5. Agbede, C.O.; Olutoge, F.A.; Agbede, O.A., 2025. Cow Horns Based Concrete (RP: NG/PT/NC/O/2025/20360). Centre for Intellectual Property Protection and Commercialization (CIPPAC), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
6. Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment. (2020). Structural efficiency of concrete containing crushed bone aggregates. Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology & Environment. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
7. Environmental impacts of cement production and reduction methods. (2024). DeriasWorld. [Online resource]. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
8. Fapohunda, C., Shittu, K., Aderoju, S., & Abiodun, A. (2016). Suitability of crushed cow bone (CCB) as partial or full replacement of fine aggregates for concrete production. West Indian Journal of Engineering, 39(1), 23–29. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
9. Gholampour, A., Ozbakkaloglu, T., Valizadeh Kiamahalleh, M., & Gencel, O. (2025). Waste glass as a substitution for binder and sand in concrete: Mechanical and physical properties. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 10, Article 179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-025-02011-z [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
10. Impact of crushed natural aggregate on environmental footprint of the construction industry: Enhancing sustainability in aggregate production. (2021). Buildings, MDPI, 14(9), Article 2770. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092770 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
11. Koehnken, L., Rintoul, M. S., Goichot, M., Tickner, D., Loftus, A. C., & Acreman, M. C. (2020). Impacts of river sand mining on freshwater ecosystems: A review of the scientific evidence and guidance for sustainable management. Science of the Total Environment, 732, 139081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139081 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
12. Kothai, F., & Malathy, R. (2014). Utilization of waste materials as fine aggregate in concrete. Journal of Civil Engineering Research, 4(1), 1–6. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
13. Malik, M. I., Bashir, M., Ahmad, S., Tariq, T., & Chowdhary, U. (2013). Study of concrete involving use of waste glass as partial replacement of fine aggregates. IOSR Journal of Engineering, 3(7), 8–13. https://doi.org/10.9790/3021-03710813 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
14. Mangi, S. A., Jamaluddin, N., Wan Ibrahim, M. H., Abdullah, S. R. S., & Ali, N. (2019). Utilization of agricultural waste materials as potential sustainable precursors for supplementary cementitious materials – A review. Construction and Building Materials, 226, 346–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.07.198 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
15. Mehta, P. K., & Monteiro, P. J. M. (2014). Concrete: Microstructure, properties, and materials (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
16. Mir, A. H. (2015). Replacement of natural sand with efficient alternatives: Recent advances in concrete technology. International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications, 5(3), 51–58. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
17. Neeraja, V. S., & Gopal, P. (2015). Mechanical behavior of industrial waste admixed with polypropylene fiber in concrete. International Journal of Innovative Research in Advanced Engineering, 2(10), 32–38. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
18. Oloko, E. O., Ogarekpe, N., Agunwamba, J. C., Idagu, F. O., Bejor, E. S., Eteng, O. B., & Ndem, H. D. (2017). Suitability of burnt and crushed cow bones as partial replacement for fine aggregate in concrete. Nigerian Journal of Technology, 36(3), 686–690. https://doi.org/10.4314/njt.v36i3.4 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
19. Olutoge, F. A. (2010). Investigations on sawdust and palm kernel shells as aggregate replacement. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 5(4), 7–13. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
20. Olutoge, F. A., Quadri, H. A., & Olafusi, O. S. (2012). Investigation of the strength properties of palm kernel shell ash concrete. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 2(6), 315–319. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
21. Sustainable development of concrete through aggregates and innovative materials: A review. (2021). Applied Sciences, MDPI, 11(2), Article 629. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11020629 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
22. Sharma, S., & Gupta, A. (2016). Keratin waste: The biodegradable polymers. International Journal of Advanced Research, 4(3), 159–163. https://doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/1340 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
23. Tesfaye, T., Sithole, B., Ramjugernath, D., & Chunilall, V. (2017). Valorisation of chicken feathers: Characterisation of physical properties and morphological structure. Journal of Cleaner Production, 149, 349–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.094 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
24. Usman, N. D., Idusuyi, F. I., Ojo, E. B., & Simon, B. (2012). The use of sawdust and palm kernel shell as substitute for fine and coarse aggregates in concrete construction in developing countries. Journal of Chemical, Mechanical and Engineering Practices. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
25. Valorization of livestock keratin waste: Application in agricultural fields. (2022). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), 6681. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116681 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
26. Vasudevan, G. (2016). Performance on used iron sand as concrete admixture. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Civil, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Bali, Indonesia. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
27. Vasudevan, G. (2016). Experimental study on partial replacement of fine aggregate by iron ore tailings in concrete. International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering, 2(10), 546–550. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
28. Zebilila, M. D. H., Mustapha, Z., Kikaa, M. L., Adu, T. F., & Osei, M. (2024). Sustainable concrete production using waste glass powder as a partial replacement of fine aggregate. Indonesian Journal of Construction Engineering and Sustainable Development (CESD), 7(1), 22–29. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
Metrics
Views & Downloads
Similar Articles
- The Impact Of UI/UX Design on User Trust and Task Completion in Civic Tech Platforms
- Solar Cell Photovoltaic Model Shell Sp 75
- Development of an Intelligent Traffic Management System to Address Visibility Obstruction at Urban Intersections: A Case Study of Ibadan Metropolis
- Optimum Placement of Facts Devices on an Interconnected Power Systems Using Particle Swarm Optimisation Technique
- Assessing Construction Transformation and Implication on Future Production Flow System