Investigation of strength and durability of paving blocks made of non-biodegradable household waste as partial substitute for fine aggregates

• Main Authors: Benedicto, Martin, Eusebio, Marisue, Granada, Jude, Tuazon, Darwin
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2016
• Subjects: Pavements, Brick > Testing; Aggregates (Building materials); Aggregates (Building materials) > Philippines > Laguna; Plastic analysis (Engineering); Plastic scrap > Philippines > Laguna
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/9516
• Institution: De La Salle University

Plastic has become a part of man's daily life and the production of plastic has increased tremendously for the past decades resulting to an alarming high level of plastic waste. To solve this problem, laws have been passed and some researches have also been conducted in the incorporation of plastic in various products. A community in Calauan, Laguna managed by a Salesian priest, incorporated the plastic waste produced by the community into the production of CHB. Considering the number of resorts in the vicinity of the area, the researchers have shown interest in manufacturing paving blocks as a potential source of income for the community which is also similar to the existing product. This study aimed to determine the best proportion of the mix design in producing pavement blocks, using non-biodegradable household waste as a partial substitute (0%, 0.5%, 1%,1.5%, and 2%.) to fine aggregates in terms of strength and durability. The researchers gathered scientific data from various tests in order to help the residents market the product. Results show that the highest compressive strength gain was in the 1% plastic replacement making it to be a good choice in terms of the best plastic mix design. 0.5% plastic replacement showed the highest flexural strength followed by 1%. Both cases showed that both flexural and compressive were higher than the 0% mix. Thus design mix underwent durability tests because problems may not appear to be alarming at the start but will eventually be a potential danger and lead to structural damage in the future. Tested for durability against wet and dry environment, it was found that the blocks subjected to wet and dry cycles produced lower densities and increased capacity to absorb water but an increase in strength was observed.