Experimental Study on the Properties of Concrete with Partial Replacement of Sand by Plastic Pet Bottle Fiber

Abstract

ABSTRACT The suitability of plastic pet bottle fiber as fine aggregate in concrete and its advantages are discussed here. The effect of the plastic fiber as a partial replacement of sand in concrete production was studied here. Several things which were invented for our convenient life are responsible for polluting environment due to improper waste management technique. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is routinely used for carbonated beverage and water bottles. This is an environmental issue as waste plastic bottles are difficult to biodegrade. In the Modern world, the construction industry is searching for cost-effective materials for enhancing the strength of concrete structures. This work is carried out with use of waste PET bottles as the partial replacement of fine aggregate in Ordinary Portland cement. As 100% replacement of natural fine aggregate with plastic fine aggregate is not feasible, partial replacement at various percentage were examined. The properties of the materials were determined before the experimental works were carried out. The normal consistency, soundness, initial and final setting time, compressive strength and specific gravity of cement used for the experiment were found as 31%, 3mm ,65minutes, 280minutes, 59.38N/mm2 and 3.15 respectively. Water absorption and specific gravity of fine aggregate were found 1.40% and 2.63 respectively and for coarse aggregate were 1.19% and 2.69 respectively. Sieve Analysis was performed to determine the particle size distribution of sand and coarse aggregates from the fineness modulus, the average size of particle of sand and coarse aggregates used for the experimental works were found. M20 grade of concrete was prepared at 0.50 water cement ratio. Concrete cube of 150x150x150mm and beam of size 75x75x300mm were prepared for the tests. Cube specimens, beam specimens were casted, cured and tested for 7 day and 28 days strength. Concrete with 1%, 2%, 2.5%, 3% and 5% PET bottle fibers for fine aggregate were produced and compared against control mix with no replacement of sand. Tests such as Compressive strength test and flexural strength test were done and the results were compared with control specimens. The observed results revealed an increase in compression and Flexural strength up to 2%-2.5% of sand replacement. hence with the increasing demand for fine aggregate, PET bottle fiber replacements can be adopted. This study was carried out to investigate the properties of concrete with plastic pet bottle fiber as partial replacement of fine aggregates.