Mechanical Behavior of Concrete with Recycled PET Fiber/Red Ceramic Waste

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyze the mechanical resistance to compression of conventional specimens and specimens with the addition of red ceramic and waste of ethylene poly terephthalate (PET). The methodology applied has been based on the experimental dosage method of the São Paulo State Technology Research Institute (IPT). Three traces have been made: rich trace (1:0.5:3.5:0.45), medium trace (1:0.8:4.2:0.54) and poor trace (1:1.1:4.9:0.65), with percentages 0%, 2%, 3% and 4% of recycled PET fiber mixed with the red ceramic waste. For concreting, the materials have been mixed in a concrete mixer with a capacity of 120 liters in 20 min for each trace. Like this, 36 specimens have been made in cylindrical form 10 cm in diameter and 20 cm in height, with ages of initially and 28 days, both before the breaking load test, spending the first 24 hours immersed in tanks with water, remaining until the day of its rupture, according to NBR 5738 (ABNT, 2008). Slump flow tests, T500 time tests, workability have been performed, as well as the mechanical tests of Compressive strength and Compressive strength/density. PET fiber/red ceramic has offered greater workability than conventional concrete aggregate, using the same w/c ratio. A 4–12% reduction in density has been achieved with the PET fiber/red ceramic compared to the conventional aggregate concrete. With the 4% PET fiber/red ceramic replacing conventional aggregates at a 0.45 a/c ratio, compressive strength of 37.56 MPa has been obtained, the highest among all traces.