Performance of Recycled Plastic-Based Concrete

Abstract

This paper reports an experimental study on recycled plastic concrete (RPC) that uses recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/polycarbonate copolymer (ABS/PC) plastic particles to replace 5, 10, 15, and 20% (in volume) of fine aggregate sand. The plastic particles used in this research were recycled from waste plastic. The static and dynamic mechanical properties of specimens made of 5, 10, 15, and 20% plastic aggregate in volume were measured on a mechanical testing machine. The cube strength, axial compressive strength, and static stress-strain relationship of the RPC specimens with different plastic content were obtained. The ultimate compressive strength, ultimate strain, and dynamic stress-strain relationship of these specimens were measured with a split Hopkinson pressure bar device under four different strain rates. The stress-strain curves and energy absorption of the RPC specimens with different plastic content were obtained under the four different strain rate levels. The influences of plastic content and strain rates on the mechanical properties of RPC were analyzed. The results showed that the energy absorption capability of RPC was higher than that of normal concrete and increased with the plastic content. The impact resistance performance of RPC materials was superior to that of normal concrete.