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Dissertation_Ramzi Abduallah.pdf (19.78 MB)

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Recycling Plastic Materials in Concrete Infrastructure

Abduallah, Ramzi Muftah Ali
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5781-254X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638458988344282

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Civil Engineering.
The high demand for concrete and the large amount of landfilled plastics necessitate an action to minimize their impacts on the environment. This study aims to recycle discarded plastics as a construction material to partially substitute the main ingredients of concrete (cement and aggregates). The objective is to make sure the strength and durability properties of concrete are not compromised while mitigating the sustainability concern. Discarded plastics including Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene (PS) were reprocessed and incorporated in cement paste, mortar, and concrete. This study investigated changes in cement hydration kinetics and strength and durability of mortar and concrete due to partial replacement (5-15%) of their conventional ingredients with recycled plastics. The last part of this study included a life cycle assessment to evaluate changes in the greenhouse gas emissions that can result due to encapsulating discarded plastics in concrete. Research results indicated that plastic powders with a maximum particle size of 75 µm were not fully inert concerning early age hydration reactions. The effects of replacing natural fine aggregate with plastic particles on the properties of fresh and hardened mortar and concrete differed based on the plastic type and replacement ratio. Mortars incorporating plastics showed flowability, density, and compressive and flexural strengths lower than the control mortar. PS mortars showed the lowest compressive strength reduction (3-11%) compared to the control mortar. Most concrete samples incorporating 10% of plastics as a replacement for sand showed an average compressive strength reduction of 4%. The modulus of elasticity of plastic-modified concrete was 2 to 7% lower than the control concrete. The majority of plastic-aggregate concrete exhibited slight increases in tensile strength and Poisson’s ratio compared to the control concrete. Reinforced concrete beams containing plastics showed strength similar to that of the control specimens. The strength of plastic-modified mortar and concrete was influenced mainly by the bond between plastic particles and cement paste and did not show a correlation with the strength of plastics used as aggregate. Relationships between compressive strength and other strength properties established by ACI 318-19 are still applicable for plastic-modified mortar and concrete. Life cycle assessment results indicated that recycling plastic as a construction material could result in a 26% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to the process of landfilling plastic waste.
Halil Sezen, Prof. (Advisor)
Jose Castro, Prof. (Committee Member)
Lisa Burris, Prof. (Committee Member)
Civil Engineering
recycling plastic; plastic waste; sand replacement; cement replacement; fine aggregate replacement; mortar; concrete; reinforced concrete

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Abduallah, R. M. A. (2021). Recycling Plastic Materials in Concrete Infrastructure [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638458988344282

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Abduallah, Ramzi. Recycling Plastic Materials in Concrete Infrastructure. 2021. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638458988344282.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Abduallah, Ramzi. "Recycling Plastic Materials in Concrete Infrastructure." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1638458988344282

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1638458988344282
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.