Experimental study on the use of plastic bottle waste in conventional concrete

Abstract

Improper management of plastic bottle waste is harming the environment. Recycling this waste for inclusion in the concrete matrix is a viable alternative for its final disposal. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mechanical behavior of conventional concrete with the addition of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, designed according to the procedures established by the American Concrete Institute for a strength of 20 MPa. The analyzed properties of the concrete included consistency, density, compressive strength, and flexural strength. Sixty cylindrical and 60 prismatic specimens with PET fiber additions of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by weight of cement were prepared for testing at 7, 14, and 28 days of curing. The results indicate that maximum compressive and flexural strengths of 22.79 MPa and 3.19 MPa are achieved at 28 days by adding 2% and 6% PET fibers. Therefore, its application is recommended up to a proportion of 4%, where the corresponding dosage is 15.78 kilograms of PET fibers per cubic meter of concrete with a workable consistency. © 2024, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmosfera, UNAM. All rights reserved.