Recycling the low-density polyethylene pellets in the pervious concrete production

Abstract

The main target of this study is to experimentally investigate the possibility of recycling of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pellets as aggregate in pervious concrete manufacturing to achieve sustainable pervious concrete and contribute to plastic waste management. Therefore, two aggregate-to-cement ratios of 7 and 6 are chosen to produce two different pervious concrete series. Natural aggregate and LDPE pellets utilized in the production of pervious concrete are in a single size that remained on a 4.5-mm sieve and passed from 9.5-mm sieve. Natural aggregate was substituted with LDPE pellet at contents of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% of total aggregate volume. Totally, 12 pervious concrete mixtures were designed. Basic engineering characteristics of pervious concrete were investigated in terms of permeability and compressive strength. Moreover, abrasion resistance and splitting tensile strength of concrete mixtures were also examined. Additionally, fresh/dry densities and void contents of produced pervious concrete mixtures were determined during the experimental study. The results showed that abrasion resistance of pervious concrete was enhanced by substituting natural aggregate with LDPE pellet whereas strength characteristics were adversely affected. In addition, reductions in fresh and dry densities, void content, and percolation rate of pervious concretes were observed due to the inclusion of the LDPE pellet.