Practical Study on the Effect of Partial Replacement of Coarse Aggregate with Plastic Waste on some Normal Concrete Properties

Abstract

Plastic waste management has become a burden and a threat for countries and major cities as well as a danger to environmental safety. The current report covers the ability of the concrete sector to use and recycle plastic wastes. The demand for concrete and raw materials for construction engineering has become very high in recent years because of urban development and the expansion of cities. Therefore, the use of this waste in civil and structural engineering is considered a successful way to get rid of plastic wastes properly to protect the environment. This research investigates the effectiveness of using plastic drinking water bottles (currently the highest plastic waste on the Iraqi market) as a partial substitution of the gravel in concrete. Plastic waste was added in different weight ratios of 2.5%, 5% and 10% as a partial substitute for the gravel and a cement mixture. A benchmark of 0% plastic wastes was prepared as a reference concrete for comparison purposes. The results show the possibility of using plastic waste, such as construction material. The results show a decrease in concrete strength by 12%, 29%, and 47%, and a reduction in concrete density by 10%, 16% and 31%, respectively. Research results show that this is useful to add plastic wastes for obtaining lightweight concrete.