Cogent Engineering (Dec 2024)

Exploring the potential of incorporating plastic waste, textile sludge, and construction and demolition waste into concrete: a comparative study

  • Hagar Hammad,
  • Yasmin Elhakim,
  • Tawfik Ismail,
  • Irene S. Fahim,
  • Mohamed Mahmoud

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2024.2307217
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1

Abstract

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AbstractWaste is considered a significant environmental issue in modern times thus the purpose of this paper is to compare the use of different waste materials in replacing aggregates in concrete. This study investigates the potential of incorporating plastic waste (PW), textile sludge (TS), and construction and demolition waste (CDW) into concrete as sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials, by evaluating its mechanical, durability characteristics as well as the cost related to different process of the project. The study focuses on the use of PW and TS as a replacement for fine aggregate, and CDW as replacements for coarse aggregate. Thus, four concrete mixes incorporating PW and TS were prepared, using 0% 10%, 25%, 40% replacement levels. The compressive strength of concrete with 10% plastic waste as fine aggregate was 32.49 N/mm2 showing higher results than that of TS. Furthermore, another four concrete mixes incorporating CDW were prepared, using 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% replacement levels. The compressive strength of concrete with 25% CDW was 30.90 N/mm2 indicating an increase of 2% than the control block. The study concluded that the best strategy is to incorporate construction and demolition waste as a replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete. This is because it resulted in an increase in compressive strength as well as a decrease in cost. Public Interest StatementThis article is discussing the validation of the usage of various waste materials in place of aggregates in concrete, as waste is now considered as a major environmental issue. This study examines the viability of using construction and demolition waste (CDW), textile sludge (TS), and plastic waste (PW) in concrete as sustainable substitutes for conventional building materials, which will be a milestone in reaching the concept of sustainable housing. This will be reached by assessing the material's durability and mechanical properties as well as the associated costs of various project processes. The study focuses on replacing the coarse aggregate which is the dolomite with construction and demolition and replacing fine aggregate which is the sand in this case, with Plastic waste and Textile Sludge.

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