A study of green lightweight concrete using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as aggregate

Abstract

It is the time for development and implementation of sustainable materials in construction and reduce the reliance on non-renewable sources. Uses of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), largely used for manufacturing plastic carry bottles, are rising in an alarming rate and the reuse of these plastic wastes is highly essential. Therefore, the main focus of this study is to use PET as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete. The safety, durability, and stability of the structure largely depend on the properties of concrete, and thus, it is imperative to prepare concrete with adequate compressive strength. In lieu with this objective, 18 cylinders are prepared with conventional concrete materials, and 54 more cylinders are prepared with PET as a partial replacement, 10%, 20%, and 30% by volume, of coarse aggregate to find out the best possible replacement ratio. Three water-cement ratio (i.e. 0.42, 0.48, and 0.57) are taken under consideration for achieving optimum workability in using PET as Plastic coarse aggregate.