Correlation between destructive and non-destructive evaluation to study of plastic waste aggregate mortar: a case study of mechanical proprieties

Abstract

Non-destructive evaluation using ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) testing has extensive applications in the cement materials industry. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) test is accepted as alternative to destructive testing to determine the compressive strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and Poisson’s ratio, which are needed for structural design. In modern construction technology, the use of Plastic waste (PW) as a partial replacement to natural aggregates in a mortar mix is growing in popularity primarily because it reduces the initial capital cost of raw materials and the associated conservation in environment. In this regard, this study explains the correlations between mechanical proprieties, and UPV tests for mortar contains 25%, 50%, and 75% of waste aggregate of plastic. Mortar based on Plastic Waste (MPW) specimens were tested by direct, semi-direct, and indirect UPV. UPV measurements can be effectively used to determine the dynamic modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio of Mortar based on Plastic Waste MPW. The dynamic elastic modulus and the Poisson’s ratio decreases for the same mortar composite when at increasing PW content. Thus, the incorporation of PW particles into the cement matrix confirms the capacity of composites to reduce the sound intensity and damp vibrations inside the composites. The results of this study will be significant for non-destructive evaluations of MPW, while additional recommendations for future studies are presented at the end of the paper.