Investigating the effects of shredded plastic bags and plastic bottles on the flexural strength of a concrete beam

• Main Authors: Caneca, Moises Carll M., Pelaez, Emmanuel Bastian L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2016
• Subjects: Concrete > Testing; Concrete > Additives; Civil Engineering; Structural Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/14959
• Institution: De La Salle University

Strength is an important property of concrete. This is because the durability of the structure is dependent on the strength of concrete. In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of shredded plastic bags and plastic bottles on the flexural strength of concrete. The reason for these are to reduce plastic waste as well as to find alternative use of plastics. These are also more economical alternatives for the conventional materials used in reinforcements for concrete.This study investigated whether the partial addition of plastics and plastic bottles will have an effect on the strength of concrete. The strength analysis was based on ASTM Standard C496, ASTM Standard C39 and ASTM Standard C78. Concrete specimens were tested with water-cement ratio of 0.4, and a weight percentage of 0.5%. The shredded plastic fibers were thoroughly mixed with the concrete mix and the specimens were moist cured for 28 days. After 28 days the specimens were tested for tensile strength, flexural strength and compressive strength. The strength observed from the tests were used to relate the effects of plastics on the mechanical properties of concrete. The study was extended by further analysis on the flexural strength of the beam specimens in terms of their cracking moment and deflection.