Experimental Investigation on the Properties of Concrete Replacing Waste Plastic as Aggregates for Solving Waste Management Problem

Abstract

Solid waste management is one of the growing problems of every country. As part of this ongoing program to consider the growing waste management, pollution problem, and prevention framework in India, the Ministry of Environment has suggested various approaches and ways through which we can either recycle or use the most polluting materials like plastic. The present study covers one of the ways through which to recycle one of the polluting plastics as the replacement of coarse aggregates in concrete and concrete-related projects. The focus of this experimental study is to investigate the change in the behavior of mechanical properties of bulk concrete with the inclusion of plastics in the percentage replacements of 0%, 4%, 8%, 10%, and 16% with the natural aggregate. In addition, a fixed percentage of plastic fibers of 01% for every mix for making the concrete samples were also studied. The type of cement used in the current experimentation is OPC 53-grade. It has been determined that the usage of plastic aggregates played a role in the development of lightweight concrete. Compression and tensile strength tests are performed on cubes and cylinders after casting. In addition to compressive strength, the tensile strengths of concrete also reduced at higher percentages with the introduction of plastic aggregate. The change that is worth mentioning is that within 4% to 8% of proportion by aggregates, the concrete gives very good results. It can act both as an ideal replacement to be used in structural concrete and generation of a lightweight concrete. Therefore, it can be said that plastics after recycling can be used for lightweight concrete making.