Influence of Recycled Plastic Incorporation as Coarse Aggregates on Concrete Properties

Khawar Ali, Panumas Saingam, Muhammad Irshad Qureshi, Shahzad Saleem, Adnan Nawaz, Tahir Mehmood, Ahsen Maqsoom, Muhammad Waqas Malik and Suniti Suparp ()
Additional contact information
Khawar Ali: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila 47050, Pakistan
Panumas Saingam: Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
Muhammad Irshad Qureshi: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila 47050, Pakistan
Shahzad Saleem: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila 47050, Pakistan
Adnan Nawaz: Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Wah Campus, Wah Cantt 47040, Pakistan
Tahir Mehmood: Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Wah Campus, Wah Cantt 47040, Pakistan
Ahsen Maqsoom: Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad, Wah Campus, Wah Cantt 47040, Pakistan
Muhammad Waqas Malik: Department of Civil Engineering, Capital University of Science & Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Suniti Suparp: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakhonnayok 26120, Thailand

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: Plastic waste has increased significantly in recent years as a result of fast population growth and urbanization. Studies on the incorporation of plastic aggregates as a substitution for natural aggregates in concrete are needed to successfully reduce both adverse environmental impact and the depletion of natural resources. The objective of this research was to investigate the use of plastic as a partial substitution for natural coarse aggregates in concrete. For this purpose, seven concrete mixes were produced using 0, 10, 15, and 20% plastic coarse aggregates to replace natural aggregates with and without silica fume of similar replacement levels with cement. Fresh density, workability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, stress–strain response, and Poisson’s ratio were observed to study the fresh as well as hardened properties of concrete mixtures. Indoor and outdoor thermal performance and thermo-gravimetric analysis were also investigated. The results revealed that the plastic aggregates’ incorporation improved the workability of concrete; however, it negatively influenced the fresh density and mechanical properties of concrete. The compressive and tensile strengths of plastic aggregate concrete without silica fume were reduced by 32 and 33%, respectively. The reduction in strength could be associated with the smooth texture of plastic aggregates. The addition of silica fume with plastic aggregates resulted in denser concrete and improved mechanical properties. In general, the performance of plastic aggregates as a partial replacement for natural aggregates was satisfactory, which suggests their possible use to produce eco-friendlier concrete.

Keywords: plastic waste; sustainability; silica fume; stress–strain behavior; thermal performance; recycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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