MUMBAI, India, June 22 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641050520 A) filed by Mr. Samuel Abraham D on April 21, 2026, for Experimental Investigation Of Coconut Shell As A Lightweight Aggregate In Concrete.
Inventors include Mr. Samuel Abraham D; Mr. Virna Singh K; Mr. Sarathy K; Mr. Mubarak A; and Mr. Gururaj R.
The application for the patent was published on June 12, 2026, under issue no. 24/2026.
Abstract: Background of the Invention Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world, and natural coarse aggregates such as crushed granite constitute a major component of conventional concrete. However, the continuous extraction of natural aggregates leads to depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation, and increased construction costs. At the same time, large quantities of agricultural waste materials, particularly coconut shells, are generated annually in coconut-producing regions. These shells are often disposed of by open dumping or burning, which contributes to environmental pollution. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in developing sustainable and lightweight materials by utilizing waste products as partial replacements for conventional aggregates. Coconut shell, due to its hard structure, low density, and good mechanical properties, has shown potential as a lightweight aggregate in concrete, However, limited studies have focused on its structural performance in reinforced concrete elements such as beams. Therefore, the present invention investigates the use of coconut shell as a partial replacement for conventional coarse aggregate in concrete and evaluates its structural behaviour through experimental analysis, to develop a lightweight, eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative material for sustainable construction. Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to the development of lightweight and sustainable concrete by utilizing coconut shell as a partial replacement for conventional coarse aggregates. In this invention, coconut shell aggregates are processed and incorporated into the concrete mix at an optimum replacement level to produce lightweight concrete with adequate mechanical and structural properties. Experimental investigations were carried out to evaluate the performance of coconut shell aggregate concrete in terms of workability, density, compressive strength, and structural behaviour. Reinforced concrete beam specimens were cast using the optimum replacement level and tested under two-point loading conditions to analyse load- deflection behaviour, crack pattern, and ultimate load carrying capacity. The results demonstrate that coconut shell aggregate concrete exhibits reduced density and improved sustainability while maintaining comparable structural performance to conventional concrete. The invention provides an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and lightweight alternative construction material suitable for structural and non-structural applications, particularly in low to medium load-bearing structures. Disclosure ofthe Invention Reference may be made to patent number IN201241032145A by K. Gunasekaran et al., titled "Coconut Shell Aggregate Concrete Composition". The invention describes the use of coconut shell as a lightweight coarse aggregate in concrete. It reports acceptable compressive and bond strength; however, it does not evaluate the structural behaviour of reinforced concrete members such as beams. Reference may be made to patent number US20060086521Al by E. A. Olanipekun et al., titled "Lightweight Concrete Using Agricultural Waste Aggregates". The invention compares coconut shell and palm kernel shell as coarse aggregates. Although coconut shell shows better mechanical performance, the invention focuses only on basic concrete properties and not on structural load behaviour. Reference may be made to patent number IN201821018765A by R. Rajasekaran et al., titled "Concrete Composition Using Coconut Shell Aggregate". The invention studies the effect of coconut shell on compressive and tensile strength. However, it is limited to material property evaluation and does not include beam flexural testing. Reference may be made to patent number W02015147865Al by various researchers, titled "Sustainable Concrete Using Waste Aggregates". The invention focuses on eco-friendly concrete using waste materials. Nevertheless, it does not investigate the flexural behaviour, crack pattern, or load-deflection response of reinforced concrete beams.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
