A

PROJECT REPORT
ON
“UTILIZATION OF PLASTIC WASTE IN CONCRETE MIX”
DIPLOMA
IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
SUBMITTED BY:
HIMANSHU VERMA E.No.-E20226032200009
DEEPU SINGH E.No.-E20226032200026
ANURAG VERMA E.No.-E20226032200003
SATVIK SINGH E.No.-E20226032200035
SHUBHAM SHARMA E.No.-E20226032200045

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF: MR. AJAY VERMA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

B.N. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

2022-23

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 CERTIFICATE

This to certify that (Roll No. 2004310009017, Roll No. 2004310009010 , Roll
No.2004310009002 , Roll No. 2004310009009 have carried out research presented in the
project entitled “ USE OF PLASTIC WASTE AS AGGREGATE IN CONSTRUCTION” for
the award of the degree of Bachelor Of Technology in Civil Engineering and submitted to the
Department of CIVIL ENGINEERING of B.N. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING &
TECHNOLOGY , LUCKNOW under my supervision. The project report embodies result of
original work and studies carried out by the students and the contents do not form the basis of
the award of any degree to the candidate or anybody else.

MR. GAJENDRA SINGH BHADORIYA MR. ANAND KUMAR

PROJECT GUIDE & HOD PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR &
DEPTT.OF CIVIL ENGG ASSISSTANT PROFESSOR
(B.N.C.E.T). DEPTT.OF CIVIL ENGG.
(B.N.C.E.T)

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Like most effective endeavours, preparing this project was a collaborative effort. I owe a
great debt to many individuals who helped me in successful completion of this project
I would not have completed this journey without the help, guidance and constant co-
operation of certain people who acted as a guides and friends along the way. I would like to
express my deepest and sincere thanks to Mr. Mahesh Singh Patel (Managing
Trustee,B.N.College of Engineering and Technology),Prof. (Dr.) Ajay Kumar Sachan
(Director,B.N.College of Engineering and Technology),Mr.Gajendra Singh Bhadoriya
(H.O.D. Civil Engg.) and Mr.Anand Kumar (Assistant Professor Civil Engg.) for their
invaluable guidance and help. It would never be possible for me to take this project to this
level without their innovative ideas and their relentless support and encouragement.
In the connection I would like to express my gratitude to my
parents and friends who were constant source of inspiration during the project report. At last I
thank to Almighty for giving me the power to complete this project successfully.

NIKHIL SHARMA (2004310009017)

IAMAM HUSSAIN (2004310009010)

ANOOP YADAV (2004310009002)

HIMANSHU VERMA (2004310009009)

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 INDEX

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………….5-5
CHAPTER-1: INTRODUCTION……………………………………….6-15
 Pet Plastic
 Properties of Plastic
 Disadvantages of Plastic
 Basic Construction Materials and Properties
CHAPTER-2: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………….16-23
CHAPTER-3: METHODOLOGY………………………………………24-37
 Design of Concrete Mix
 Specimen for Compressive Strength
 Specimen for Split Tensile Strength
 Specimen for Flexural Strength
 Testing of Concrete Cube
 Water Absorption Test
 Slump Test
CHAPTER-4: PLASTIC PRODUCTION AND DECOMPOSITION….38-45
 Growth of Plastic Production
 Accumulation
 Plastic Breakdown
 Microplastic Pollution
 Burning Process of Plastic Waste
CHAPTER-5: PLASTIC WASTE
MANAGEMENT(AMENDMENT)RULES,2022……………………...46-51
 Plastic Usage Across the Globe
 Plastic Waste Management
 Provisions Under New Guidelines
 EPR Targets and Obligations of PIBO’S
 Linear Economy
CHAPTER-6: OUR WORK: MAKING CUBES BY REPLACING COARSE
AGGREGATE WITH PLASTIC WASTE……………………………….52-61
 Process of Work by Team Members
 Testing Report of Cubes After 7 Days and 28 Days
CHAPTER-7: CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES……...62-63
REFERENCE…………………………………………………………….64-64
STUDENTS DETAILS…………………………………………………...65-65

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 ABSTRACT
The project elucidates about the use of plastic waste in civil construction. The components
used include everything from plastic screws and hangers to bigger plastic parts that are used
in decoration, electric wiring, flooring, wall covering and waterproofing. Plastic use in road
construction that have shown same hope in terms of using plastic waste in road
construction. i.e. plastic roads. Plastic roads mainly use plastic carry bags, disposable cups
and PET bottles that are collected from garbage dumps as important ingredients of the
construction materials. By using plastic waste as modifier, we can reduce the quantity of
cement and sand by their weight, hence decreasing the overall cost of construction. At 20%
optimum modifier content, strength of modified concrete we found to see the times greater
than the plain cement concrete. Using plastic poisons our food chain under the plastic
affects human health. By the disposable plastics is the main source of plastic. For these
plastic pollutions is not only the ocean also in desert. Plastic will increase the melting point
of the bitumen. Rain water will not seep through because of the plastic in the tar. So, this
technology will result in lesser road repairs.
Keywords:M2O, plain cement concrete, waste plastic, technology, construction, rain water.

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 CHAPTER-1:
INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

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Nowadays, human apply all of its potentiality to consume more. The result of this high
consumption is nothing unless reducing the initial resources and increasing the landfill. In
recent times, human from the one hand is always seeking broader sources with lower price
and from the other hand is following the way to get rid of the wastes. The waste today can
be produced wherever humans footprints be existed, and remind him that they have not
chosen the appropriate method for exploitation of the nature. This paper introduces the
development and low cost housing in India. At the present time, the possibility of utilizing
the renewable resources such as solar, geothermal has been provided for us more than
before, and development of the renewable and alternative energies is making progress.
Plastic have become an essential part of our day to day life since their introduction over
hundred years ago. The only way to reduce the hazards of plastic is reduce and reuse.

PET PLASTIC:
Introduction of PET:
PET is used for high impact resistant container for packaging of soda, edible oils and Peanut
butter (Table 1). Used for cereal box liners, Microwave food trays. Used in medicine for
plastic vessels and for Implantation. Plastic is heat resistant and chemically stable. PET is
resistant to acid, base, some solvents, oils, fats. PET is difficult to melt and transparent .

PROPERTIES OF PLASTIC:

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Plastic have many good characteristics which include versatility, light-ness, hardness, and
resistant to chemicals, water and impact. Plastic is one of the most disposable materials in the
modern world. It makes up much of the street side litter in urban and rural areas. It is rapidly
filling up landfills as choking water bodies. Plastic bottles make up approximately 11% of the
content landfills, causing serious environmental consequences.
Due to the consequences some of the plastic facts are as follow:
More than 20,000 plastic bottles are needed to obtain one ton of plastic.
It is estimated that 100 million tons of plastic are produced each year.
The average European throws away 36 kg. of plastics each year.
Some plastic waste sacks are made from 64% recycled plastic.
Plastics packaging totals 42% of total consumption and every year little of this is recycled.
According to ENSO Bottles, in the 1960’s plastic bottle production has been negligible but
over the years there was an alarming increase in bottles produced and sold but the rate of
recycling is still very low.
Plastics are produced from the oil that is considered as non-renewable resource. Because
plastic has the insolubility about 300 years in the nature, it is considered as a sustainable
waste and environmental pollutant. So, reusing or recycling of it can be effectual in
mitigation of environmental impacts relating to it. It has been proven that the use of plastic
bottles as innovative materials for building can be a proper solution for replacement of
conventional materials. The use of this material has been considered not only for exterior
walls but also for the ceiling of the building. The objective of this paper is to investigate the
key and positive characteristics of this product and the benefits obtained by using it in
building. It also intends to compare the characteristics of some construction materials such as
brick, ceramic and concrete block with bottle. One can use solar bomb (bottle filled with
bleaching powder solution) will be fitted on the roof for light source.

Figure - PET bottle sales/recycled.

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 Disadvantages of plastic bottles:
Introduction:
Plastic bottles are certainly ubiquitous they bring us everything from house hold cleaners to
soft dryings to things so readily available as water these bottles, while convenient, do have
disadvantages when used on as wide a scale while most of these disadvantages are
environmental in nature the consequences could have widespread economical consequences
in the long-term.

Disadvantages of plastic bottles:

1-Decomposition
2-Non-Renewable
3-Hard To Use
4-Difficult to Recycle.

Decomposition: The main disadvantages of plastic bottles is the shear amount of time they
take to decompose he averages plastic bottle takes 500 years plastics decomposition can be
agented by various factors, such as the types of plastic, the climate and acids in the landfill;
plastic still lasts a long time, filling landfills for an indefinite period.

Non-renewable: Plastic is manufactured using oil by products and natural gas material
that could be used in numerous other applications or conserved was plastic usage lower.
Natural gas for example, can be used to heat houses and cook food. Using plastic in the
volume we currently do reduces the availability of these resources, which are gone forever
when used up.

Hard to use: The standard disposable plastic bottle is meant for one use, not many.
Recycled plastic bottles are not refilled in mass they glass beer bottles are, and flimsy plastic
bottles do not lead themselves well to at home re-usage. Water bottles, for example, are
often reused in the home but become less and less sturdy over time and are ultimately
thrown away.

Difficult to recycle: Glass bottles can be meted and easily reused as can tin cans.
Recycling plastic is not so simple. Much of the plastic placed in recycling boxes is not
recycled at all, as most plastic cannot be recycled those bottles that are recycled are not used
to make new bottles. Instead recycled plastic bottles are used to make non-recyclable
products, such as t-shirts, lactic lumber or parking lot bummers. This means more raw
materials need to be used to create new plastic bottles than is the case with easily recycled
material, such as glass or tin.

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 Basic construction materials and properties:

Introduction:
This construction requires some of the basic materials which ensures a stable, eco-friendly
structure and also results in cheap construction as compared to brick wall. Materials uses for
Bottle wall masonry construction are:
1-Soil
2-Plastic bottles
3-Cement
4-Nylon rope
5-Water
Soil: Soil is the basic element in any construction project so before using it in our project we
have to study the basic properties of the soil and go through different tests, so as to check
whether the soil sample selected is suitable for the given project.

FIGURE-SOIL

Soil texture: Soil texture can have a profound effect on many other properties and is
considered among the most important physical properties. Texture is the proportion of three
mineral particles, sand, silt and clay, in a soil. These particles are distinguished by size, and
make up the fine mineral fraction.

FIGURE-SOIL TEXTURE

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Soil colloids: Soil colloids refer to the finest clay in a soil. Colloids are an important soil
fraction due to properties that make them the location of most physical and chemical activity
in the soil. One such property is their large surface area. Smaller particles have more surface
area for a given volume or mass of particles than larger particles. Thus, there is increased
contact with other colloids and with the soil solution. This results in the formation of strong
friction and cohesive bonds between colloid particles and soil water, and is why a clay soil
holds together better than a sandy soil when wet.

FIG-SOIL COLLOIDS

Soil structure: Soil structure is the arrangement and binding together of soil particles into
larger clusters, called aggregates or pads. Aggregation is important for increasing stability
against erosion, for maintaining porosity and soil water movement, and for improving fertility
and carbon sequestration in the soil. Granular structure consists of loosely packed spherical
pads that are glued together mostly by organic substances.

FIG-SOIL STRUCTURES

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Soil porosity: Many important soil processes take place in soil pores (air or water-filled
spaces between particles). Soil texture and structure influence porosity by determining the
size, number and interconnection of pores. Coarse textured soils have many large (macro)
pores because of the loose arrangement of larger particles with one another. Fine-textured
soils are more tightly arranged and have more small (micro) pores. Macro pores in fine
textured soils exist between aggregates. Because fine-textured soils have both macro- and
micro pores, they generally have a greater total porosity, or sum of all pores, than coarse-
textured soils.

FIG-SOIL POROSITY

Plastic bottle: In this paper plastic bottles are used as a fundamental element, so we have
gone through every property of the PETE bottles so as to ensure a stable structure.

FIG-PLASTIC BOTTLE

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Cement: Cement is the important binding material. In these papers it is use to bind the
plastic bottles to make the masonry wall more durable so that the quality of cement is check
by following properties.

FIG-CEMENT

Properties of cement:

Fineness: Fineness or particle size of Portland cement affects Hydration rate and thus the
rate of strength gain. The smaller particle size, and the greater the surface area-to-volume
ratio so that the more area available for water cement interaction per unit volume. The effects
of greater fineness on strength are generally seen during the first seven days.

Soundness: Soundness is defined as the volume stability of the cement paste.

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Strength: Cement paste strength is typically defined in three ways: compressive, tensile and
flexural. These strengths can be affected by a number of items including: water cement ratio,
cement-fine aggregate ratio, type and grading of fine aggregate, curing conditions, size and
shape of specimen, loading conditions and age.

Setting Time: The initial setting time is defined as the length of time between the
penetration of the paste and the time when the needle penetrates 25mm into the cement paste.

Nylon rope: Nylon rope has a very high tensile strength so that it is use as the main binder
for PETE bottles masonry.

Water:

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Water is in a similar way like cement, an active component in mortar. For cement-sand
mortar, without water no hydration can be attained, hence no strength can be achieved.
Water is responsible for the workability of a fresh mortar. 20% of the overall weight of the
cement and soil was used to determine the quantity of water to be used in the mix. A slump
test and a flow test were conducted to evaluate the consistency of the fresh mortar.

FIG-WATER

PVC Pipes: It's the white plastic pipe commonly used for plumbing and drainage. PVC
stands for polyvinyl chloride, and it's become a common replacement for metal piping. PVC's
strength, durability, easy installation, and low cost have made it one of the most widely used
plastics in the world.

FIG: PVC PIPES

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 CHAPTER-2:
LITERATURE REVIEW

LITERATURE REVIEW

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Mujtaba et al., Concluded that reusing the plastic bottles as the building materials can have
substantial effects on saving the building embodied energy by using them instead of bricks in
walls and reducing the CO2 emission in manufacturing the cement by reducing the
percentage of cement used. It is counted as one of the foundation’s green project and has
caught the attention of the architecture and construction industry. Generally, the bottle houses
are bioclimatic in design, which means that when it is cold outside is warm inside and when it
is warm it is cold inside. Constructing a house by plastic bottles used for the walls, joist
ceiling and concrete column offers us 45% diminution in the final cost. Separation of various
components of cost shows that the use of local manpower in making bottle panels can lead to
cost reduction up to 75% compared to building the walls using the brick and concrete block.

Shilpi et al., concluded that by utilizing PET bottles in construction recycled materials,
thermal comfort can be achieved in very low-cost housing, benefit in residents for those who
cannot afford to buy and operate heating and cooling systems. Plastic is non-biodegradable,
toxic, highly resistant to heat and electricity (best insulator) and not recyclable in true sense,
plastic PET bottles use in bottle brick technique. This gives relief for the poor people of India
to provide cheap and best houses for living.

Puttaraj et al., examined that efficient usage of waste plastic in plastic-soil bricks has resulted
in effective usage of plastic waste and thereby can solve the problem of safe disposal of
plastics, also avoids its widespread littering and the utilization of quarry waste has reduced to
some extent the problem of its disposal. Plastics are produced from the oil that is considered
as non-renewable resource. Because plastic has the insolubility about 300 years in the nature,
it is considered as a sustainable waste and environmental pollutant. So, reusing or recycling
of it can be effectual in mitigation of environmental impacts relating to it. It has been proven
that the use of plastic bottles as innovative materials for building can be a proper solution for
replacement of conventional materials.

Pratima et al., studied that plastic bottles wall have been less costly as compare to bricks and
also, they provide greater strength than bricks. The PET bottles that are not recycled end up
in landfills or as litter, and they take approximately 1000 years to biodegrade. This has
resulted in plastic pollution problems in landfills, water ways and on the roadside, and this
problem continues to grow along with the plastic bottle industry.

Arulmalar et al., studied that the initial perception on the use of PET bottles in construction is
changing day by day. A paradigm which emerged as PET bottle bricks in the construction of
load bearing walls with steel trusses and prefabricated metal sheet is at present witnessing flat
roofs with nylon 6 replacing steel reinforcement and intuitive vault construction.6 Even
though research on the effective use PET in developing new material as an option, solutions
exploring the application of PET bottles as structural members, foundation, retaining walls
and secondary elements like street furniture, road dividers, pavements and other landscape
elements is to be looked in to. The Governing bodies shall formulate policies to propagate
this eco centric approach via appropriate practices, research investigations on the properties
of the materials and construction techniques.

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Vikram Pakrashi et al, examined Eco-brick is a viable resource for construction purposes
with a number of possible applications. The bricks are relatively easily manufactured with
controlled weight and packing. Eco bricks have relatively good compressive strength, with
values matching that of basic concrete cubes. The weight of Eco-brick was observed to hold a
nearly relationship with load at failure and with specific strength. Eco-bricks have a relatively
good specific strength. They are lightweight but strong for the weight they bear.

Andreas Froese et al.,concluded that when the bottles are filled with soil or sand they work as
bricks and form a framework for walls or pillars. Different types of walls varying in size and
orientation of the bottles are built. The compression strength and fracture behaviour of each
wall are measured and compared. PET bottle walls can bear up to 4.3 N/mm² when the
bottles are filled with sand which is the weakest filling material. The bottles bear one third of
the load while the plaster bears two thirds. Plaster made of clay or a cement mixture fills the
space between all bottles while a roof made of wood or corrugated metal completes the
house. As only regional products are used the houses are cheap and can be afforded even by
poor families. Additionally, the method has so far proven to be earthquake resistant and
allows short construction periods.

Yahaya Ahmade et al., said that the structure has the added advantage of being fire proof,
bullet proof and earthquake resistant, with the interior maintaining a constant temperature of
18 degrees C (64 degrees F) which is good for tropical climate.

Seltzer et al., revealed that the first example of known structures built with bottles is the
William F. Peck’s Bottle House located in Nevada (USA). It was built around 1902, and it
required 10,000 beer bottles to be built. These buildings were primarily made out of glass
bottles used as masonry units and they were bound using mortar made out of adobe, sand,
cement, clay and plaster.

Job Bwire & Arithea Nakiwala et al., suggested that, baked bricks, tiles, concrete and rocks,
among other construction materials, have been essentials in construction. But did you know
that a house constructed using plastic bottles can save you more and be just as strong as or
even stronger than brick homes? Water bottle housing is an innovation aimed at providing
low cost housing, while contributing to environment management.

Elango A and Ashok Kumar A in 2018 performed study concrete with plastic fine aggregates.
They used OPC 53 grade, River sand and crushed aggregates. They used plastic in place of
fine aggregates in proportion of 10%, 20% and 30%. They test mechanical and durability
properties on their concrete samples. They found the decrease in strength of concrete. But
found that the concrete shows good results against acid attacks and increase in elasticity. So,
they concluded that the plastic aggregate concrete can be used in place where we need less
compressive strength but more durability.

LhakpaWangmoThinghTamanget. al. in 2017 performed experiment on Plastics in Concrete

as Coarse Aggregate. They performed the testing of mechanical properties of concrete
containing Plastic aggregates They use plastic aggregates in proportion of 10%, 15%, and

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20%. They found marginal reduction in strength and suggested the optimum result as 15%
replacement.

B Jaivignesh and A Sofi in 2017 performed Study Properties of Concrete with Plastic Waste
as Aggregate. They used the plastic place of fine aggregates as well as coarse aggregates in
proportion of 10%, 15 % and 20%. They also added steel fibre to the concrete. Their research
concludes to the reduction in strength but suggested its use in favour of reduction of waste
material and eco-friendly materials.

MB Hossain et. al. in 2016 performed work on Use of waste plastic in concrete as a
constituent material. They replace coarse aggregates in proportion of 5%, 10%. They found
that the concrete was lighter in weight. But the compressive strength was lesser than that of
conventional concrete. They also found that the concrete with 10% plastic aggregates shows
strength nearly similar to the conventional concrete. So, the optimum result was 10% plastic
aggregates.

RaghatateAtul M. in 2012 performed study on use of plastic bags in form of fiber in

concrete and test it properties. He adds fiber in proportion of 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%,
0.8% and 1% by weight of concrete. He found that there was reduction of compressive
strength with increase in plastic content, but there was increase in tensile strength with
optimum strength at 0.8% addition.

Praveen Mathew et. al. in 2013 study the use of Recycled Plastics as Coarse Aggregate for
Structural Concrete. They performed test on concrete with various proportions of plastic
aggregates in replacement of coarse aggregates and found the optimum result at 22%
replacement of coarse aggregates with plastic aggregates. They further performed the test for
other properties on concrete with 22% plastic aggregates and found that concrete with plastic
aggregates was weaker in fire resistance.

S. Vanitha et al. in 2015 performed studies on use of waste plastic in Concrete Blocks. Paver
Blocks and Solid Blocks of size 200 mm X 150 mm X 60 mm and 200 mm X 100mm X 65
mm were casted for M20 grade of concrete and tested for 7, 14- and 28-days strength. Plastic
was added to a proportion of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% in equal replacement of aggregates.
They found the optimum result for paver block at 4% replacement of aggregates with plastic
aggregates. And 2% of plastic in case of solid blocks.

Youcef Ghernouti et al. The study present the partial replacement of fine aggregate in
concrete by using plastic fine aggregate obtained from the crushing of waste plastic bags.
Plastic bags waste was heated followed by cooling of liquid waste which was then cooled and
crushed to obtained plastic sand having finesse modulus of 4.7. Fine aggregate in the mix
proportion of concrete was replaced with plastic bag waste sand at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%
whereas other concrete materials remain same for all four mixes.In fresh properties of
concrete it was observed from the results of slump test that with increase of waste content
workability of concrete increases which is favorable for concrete because plastic cannot
absorb water therefore excessive water is available. Bulk density decreases with increase of
plastic bags waste. In harden state, flexural and compressive strength were tested at 28 days

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and reductions in both strengths with increasing percentage of plastic bag waste sand in
concrete mix. Plastic waste increases the volume of voids in concrete which on other hand
reduce the compactness of concrete simultaneously speed of sound in concrete is also
decreased. Strength reduction in concrete mix was prime concern; however they recommend
10 to 20% replacement of fine aggregate with plastic aggregate. Use of admixtures to address
the strength reduction property of concrete with addition of plastic aggregate is not
emphasized.

Raghatate Atul M. The paper is based on experimental results of concrete sample casted with
use of plastic bags pieces to study the compressive and split tensile strength. He used
concrete mix by using Ordinary Portland Cement, Natural River sand as fine aggregate and
crushed granite stones as coarse aggregate, portable water free from impurities and
containing varying percentage of waste plastic bags (0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6% 0.8% and 1.0%).
Compressive strength of concrete specimen is affected by the addition of plastic bags and
with increasing percentage of plastic bag pieces compressive strength goes on decreasing
(20% decrease in
compressive strength with 1% of addition of plastic bag pieces). On other hand increase in
tensile strength of concrete was observed by adding up to 0.8% of plastic bag pieces in the
concrete mix afterward it starts decreasing when adding more than 0.8% of plastic bags
pieces.
He concluded that utility of plastic bags pieces can be used for possible increase in split
tensile strength. This is just a basic study on use of plastic bags in concrete. More emphasis
was required by varying the shape and sizes of plastic bags to be use in concrete mixes.

Praveen Mathew et al. [2013]They have investigated the suitability of recycled plastic as
partial replacement to coarse aggregate in concrete mix to study effect on compressive
strength, modulus of elasticity, split tensile strength and flexural strength properties of
concrete. Coarse aggregate from plastic was obtained by heating the plastic pieces at required
temperature and crushed to required size of aggregate after cooling. Their experimental
results shown that plastic aggregate have low crushing (2.0 as compare to 28 for Natural
aggregate), low specific gravity (0.9 as compare to 2.74 for Natural aggregate), and density
value (0.81 as compare to 3.14 for Natural aggregate), as compare to Natural coarse
aggregate. Their test results were based on 20% substitution of natural coarse aggregate with
plastic aggregate. Increase in workability was reported when slump test for sample was
carried out. Volumetric substitution of natural aggregate with plastic aggregate was selected
best in comparison with grade substitution. At 400 centigrade temperature Plastic coarse
aggregate shown considerable decrease in strength as compare to normal concrete. An
increase of 28% was observed in compressive strength but decrease in split tensile strength
and modulus of elasticity was observed. They recommended that with use of suitable
admixture @0.4% by weight of cement will improve the bonding between matrix and plastic
aggregate; however, they demand more research to address the tensile behavior of concrete
prepared with 20% plastic aggregate.

R L Ramesh et al. They have used waste plastic of low density poly ethylene as replacement
to coarse aggregate to determine its viable application in construction industry and to study
the behavior of fresh and harden concrete properties. Different concrete mix were prepared

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with varying proportions (0%, 20%, 30% & 40%) of recycle plastic aggregate obtained by
heat treatment of plastic waste (160-200 centigrade) in plastic granular recycling machine. A
concrete mix design with 1: 1.5: 3 proportions was used having 0.5 water/cement ratio having
varying proportion of plastic aggregate as replacement of crushed stone. Proper mixing was
ensured and homogeneous mixture was prepared. A clear reduction in compressive strength
was reported with increase in percentage of replacing plastic aggregate with crushed
aggregate at 7, 14 and 28 days of casted cubes (80% strength achieved by replacing waste
plastic up to 30%). The research highlights the potential application of plastic aggregate in
light weight aggregate. Their research was narrowed down to compressive strength of
concrete with no emphasis given to flexural properties of concrete. They suggest future
research scope on plastic aggregate with regard to its split tensile strength to ascertain its
tensile behavior and its durability aspects for beams and columns.

Zainab Z. Ismail et al. [2007] they have conducted comprehensive study based on large
number of experiments and tests in order to determine the feasibility of reusing plastic sand
as partial replacement of fine aggregate in concrete. They conducted tests on concrete
samples for dry/fresh density, slump, compressive and flexural strength and finally toughness
indices on room temperature. They have collected waste plastic from plastic manufacture
plant consist of 80% polyethylene and 20% polystyrene which was crushed (varying length
of 0.15-12mm and width of 0.15-4mm). Concrete mix were produce with ordinary Portland
cement, fine
aggregate (natural sand of 4.74mm maximum size), coarse aggregate (max size below 20mm)
and addition of 10%, 15% and 20% of plastic waste as sand replacement. Their test results
indicate sharp decrease in slump with increasing the percentage of plastic, this decrease was
attributed to the presence of angular and non-uniform plastic particles. In spite of low slump
however, the mixture was observed with good workability and declared suitable for
application. Their tests also revealed the decrease in fresh and dry density with increasing the
plastic waste ratio; however, increase was reported in dry density with time at all curing ages.
Decrease in compressive and flexural strength was observed by increasing the waste plastic
ratio which can be related to decrease in adhesive strength between plastic waste particles
with cement. However, load-deflection curve of concrete containing plastic waste showed the
arrest of propagation of micro cracks which shows its application in places where high
toughness is required. The study has shown good workability in spite of low slump but w/c
content kept constant in all samples. They should have reduced the water content in order to
improve the strength when workability was not an issue.

P. Suganthy et al. [2013] This study investigates the application of pulverized fine crushed
plastic (produce from melting and crushing of high-density polyethylene) as replacement of
fine aggregate in concrete with varying known percentages. Their main focus was on
optimum replacement of natural sand by pulverized plastic sand. Five concrete mixes were
produced from specified concrete materials having replacement of fine aggregate (sand) by 0,
25, 50, 75 and 100% respectively to study the test graph results of various concrete
properties. The results showed increase in water/cement ratio with increase replacement of
sand with plastic particles to achieve desired 90mm concrete slump. They have also observed
from the results that gradual decrease in strength of concrete specimen for plastic
replacement up to 25% but afterward the decrease in strength is rapid which shows suitable

22
replacement up to 25% of sand with plastic pulverized sand. They have also concluded after
testing of specimen (having different proportion of plastic replacement) for Ultimate and
yield strength that both strength decreases with increase replacement of sand with pulverized
plastic particles. Their study lacks detailed testing of properties of concrete because only
compressive strength and w/c ratio tests will not be sufficient to study the matrix as a whole
to be suitable for construction. No efforts were made to explore the use of admixtures in
controlling of compressive strength reduction in a mix containing pulverized plastics.

Kailash Sarwat. [2014]

This study presents the results of addition of waste plastics along with steel fibres with an
objective to seek maximum use of waste plastic in concrete. Two different categories of mix
were casted in cubes (150mm x 150mm x 150mm), one with varying percentages of plastic
wastes (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1% weight of cement) and another mix of plastics
waste/steel fibres (0.2/0.1, 0.4/0.2, 0.6/0.3, 0.8/0.4 and 1/0.5 % by weight of cement) to study
the compressive strength at 7- and 28-days strength. The combine mix of plastic waste and
steel fibres has shown more strength as compare to concrete mix prep only with plastic waste.
He has reached to conclusion that a plastic waste of 0.6% weight of cement when used with
steel fiber of 0.3 % (weight of cement) has shown the maximum compressive strength. This
study has really focused on addressing the issue of reduced compressive strength with
addition of plastic waste. Steel fibres when used along with plastic wastes will affect all the
properties of concrete but the researcher only focused on compressive strength property
which is insufficient to give clear picture of concrete behavior.

A Bhagavatam et al. [2012] they have studied the environment friendly disposal of shredded
plastic bags in concrete mix to be use in construction industry which have dire need for
alternative material to be use in lieu of conventional materials. Different test results were
analysed after testing on 48 x concrete cubes (150mm x 150mm x150mm) prepared from
varying percentage of polyethylene fibres (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 to 1.2% of volume of concrete)
with conventional concrete material to prepare mixes. Two type of plastic bag fibres were
used, one cut manually (60mm x 3mm) and another shredded into a very fine random palette.
Cubes were tested for 7&28 days compressive strength and compaction. They concluded that
good workability was shown by the mix added with shredded fibres due to its uniform and
higher aspect ratio evenly sprayed in the mix. Addition of plastics up to 0.6% is considered
suitable after which reduction in compressive strength and compaction is seen affected. They
observed that strength loss was less in concrete having shredded fibres of plastic as compare
to hand cut macro fibres. Their research focus was only on comparative study of compressive
strength but no work was carries out on other concrete properties like tensile strength,
modulus of elasticity and density of concrete.

M.Elzafraney et al. [2005] this study has incorporated use of recycled plastic aggregate in
concrete material for a building to work out its performance with regards to thermal attributes
and efficient energy performance in comparison with normal aggregate concrete. The plastic
content concrete was prepared from refined high recycled plastics to meet various
requirement of building construction like strength, workability and finish ability etc. Both
buildings were subject to long- and short-term monitoring in order to determine their energy
efficiencies and level of comfort. It was observed that recycled plastic concrete building

23
having good insulation used 8% less energy in comparison of normal concrete; however,
saving in energy was more profound in cold climate in building with lower insulation. They
recommended that efficiency of energy can further be increase if recycle plastic of high
thermal capacity is used. They have suggested the use of recycle plastic aggregate concrete
being economical and light weights are having high resistance to heat. The author should also
incorporate the comparison of both buildings with regards to durability and strength.

Pramod S. Patil.et al.

This study presents the use of plastic recycled aggregate as replacement of coarse aggregate
for production of concrete. They used forty-eight specimen and six beams/cylinders casted
from variable plastic percentages (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%) used as replacement of coarse
aggregate in concrete mixes. They have conducted various tests and observed decrease in
density of concrete with increase percentage of replacement of aggregate with recycle plastic
concrete. They also reported decrease in compressive strength for 7 and 28 days with increase
in percentage of replacement of coarse aggregate with recycle plastic aggregate. They have
recommended feasibility of replacing 20 % will satisfy the permissible limits of strength.
Again, these researchers limited their research to only compressive strength property and no
work was carried out to study the other important properties of concrete. Their research also
lacks use of various admixtures in concrete to cater for the loss in strength

24
CHAPTER-3:

25
 METHODOLOGY

METHODOLOGY

The methodology adopted for this study is given below:

1.Literature study was done on the available data on use of plastic in concrete.
2.Plastic was collected from the waste material.
3.Plastic was cleaned for the removal of any foreign material, dust etc.
4.It was then sundried for few hours and then melted in container.
5.The melted plastic was the drawn into sheets by pouring it on flat surface, and then allowed
to cool down and get hard.
6.Cooled and hard plastic sheets were then broken into smaller particles by hammering the
sheets.
7.Test related to properties of cement and aggregates were performed.
8.Proportion of plastic coarse aggregates (PCA) in different mixes was selected on the basis
of available literature.
9.Mix design for different proportions of concrete was decided and tests were performed
to obtain the mechanical properties of different mixes.

26
10.Based on the literature survey and optimum quantities of plastic, the following
combinations were adopted.

Table 1: Percentage replacement of NCA by PCA

3.1 Design of Concrete Mix:

Concrete mix is the way by which we choose the different constituents used in the concrete
and determining their amount and by taking care about the economy and various properties of
the concrete like workability, slump value, strength criteria etc. For designing the concrete
mix, we followed IS:10262-2009. A design mix for M25 grade of concrete was prepared and
trial mixes were prepared to check the mix design and to adjust amount of admixture and
Water cement ratio. The following parameters were used for mix design.

3.2.1 Specimens for Compressive Strength:

To check the compressive strength of concrete mix, specimens of cubical shape size
150mmX150mmX150mm were prepared. The required quantities of materials required were
weighed according to the mix proportion. Aggregates and cement were firstly thoroughly
mixed. Admixture was added to the water. Water was then added to the dry mix. Total 9
similar cubes were casted, each three cubes for 7 days, 14 days and 28 days testing. After 24
hours of casting, the cubes were demoulded then placed into curing tank.

3.2.2 Specimens for Split Tensile Strength

To check the Split Tensile Strength of concrete mix, cylindrical specimens of size 150mm
diameter and 300mm height were prepared. The required quantities of materials required
were weighed according to the mix proportion. Aggregates and cement were firstly
thoroughly mixed. Admixture was added to the water. Total 9 similar cylinders were casted,

27
each three cylinders for 7 days, 14 days and 28 days testing. After 24 hours of catting, the
cylinders were demoulded and were then placed into curing tank

3.2.3 Specimens for Flexure Strength:

To check the Flexure strength of concrete mix, beam specimens of size

100mmX100mmX500mm were prepared. The required quantities of materials required were
weighed according to the mix proportion. Aggregates and cement were firstly thoroughly
mixed. Admixture was added to the water. Water was then added to the dry mix. Total 9
similar beams were casted, each three beams for 7 days, 14 days and 28 days testing. After 24
hours of catting, the beams were demoulded and were then placed into curing tank

Testing of concrete cube:

Compressive strength testing:

1-The compressive strength of the concrete cube test provides an idea about all the
characteristics of concrete. By this single test one judge that whether Concreting has been
done properly or not. Concrete compressive strength for general construction varies from 15
MPa (2200 psi) to 30 MPa (4400 psi) and higher in commercial and industrial structures.
2-Compressive strength of concrete depends on many factors such as water-cement ratio,
cement strength, quality of concrete material, quality control during the production of
concrete, etc.

3-Test for compressive strength is carried out either on a cube or cylinder. Various standard
codes recommend a concrete cylinder or concrete cube as the standard specimen for the test.
American Society for Testing Materials ASTM C39/C39M provides Standard Test Method
for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens.

28
Compressive Strength Definition:
Compressive strength is the ability of material or structure to carry the loads on its surface
without any crack or deflection. A material under compression tends to reduce the size, while
in tension, size elongates.
Compressive Strength Formula:
Compressive strength formula for any material is the load applied at the point of failure to the
cross-section area of the face on which load was applied.

(Compressive Strength = Load / Cross-sectional Area)

Procedure:
Compressive Strength Test of Concrete Cubes For cube test two types of specimens either
cubes of 15cm X 15cm X 15cm or 10cm X 10cm x 10cm depending upon the size of
aggregate are used. For most of the works cubical melds of size 15cm x 15cm x 15cm are
commonly used. This concrete is poured in the mould and appropriately tempered so as not to
have any voids. After 24 hours, moulds are removed, and test specimens are put in water for
curing. The top surface of these specimen should be made even and smooth. This is done by
placing cement paste and spreading smoothly on the whole area of the specimen. These
specimens are tested by compression testing machine after seven days curing or 28 days
curing. Load should be applied gradually at the rate of 140 kg/cm2 per minute till the
Specimens fails. Load at the failure divided by area of specimen gives the compressive
strength of concrete.

Following are the procedure for testing the Compressive strength of Concrete
Cubes:
Apparatus for Concrete Cube Test: Compression testing machine
Preparation of Concrete Cube Specimen:

29
The proportion and material for making these test specimens are from the same concrete used
in the field.
Specimen:
6 cubes of 15 cm size Mix. M15 or above
Mixing of Concrete for Cube Test:
1-Mix the concrete either by hand or in a laboratory batch mixer
2-Hand Mixing-Mix the cement and fine aggregate on a watertight none-absorbent platform
until the mixture is thoroughly blended and is of uniform colour.
3-Add the coarse aggregate and mix with cement and fine aggregate until the coarse
aggregate is uniformly distributed throughout the batch.
4-Add water and mix it until the concrete appears to be homogeneous and of the desired
consistency.
Sampling of Cubes for Test:
1-Clean the mounds and apply oil.
2-Fill the concrete in the moulds in layers approximately 5 cm thick.
3-Compact each layer with not less than 35 strokes per layer using a tamping rod (steel bar
16mm diameter and 60cm long, bullet-pointed at lower end).
4-Level the top surface and smoothen it with a trowel.
Curing of Cubes:
The test specimens are stored in moist air for 24 hours and after this period the specimens are
marked and removed from the moulds and kept submerged in clear freshwater until taken out
prior to the test.
Precautions for Tests:
The water for curing should be tested every 7 days and the temperature of the water must be
at 27+-2oC.
Procedure for Concrete Cube Test:
1-Remove the specimen from the water after specified curing time and wipe out excess water
from the surface.
2-Take the dimension of the specimen to the nearest 0.2m
3-Clean the bearing surface of the testing machine
4-Place the specimen in the machine in such a manner that the load shall be applied to the
opposite sides of the cube cast.
5-Align the specimen centrally on the base plate of the machine.
6-Rotate the movable portion gently by hand so that it touches the top surface of the
specimen.
7-Apply the load gradually without shock and continuously at the rate of 140 kg/cm2/minute
till the specimen fails
8-Record the maximum load and note any unusual features in the type of failure.

30
Note:
Minimum three specimens should be tested at each selected age. If the strength of any
specimen varies by more than 15 percent of average strength, the results of such specimens
should be rejected. The average of three specimens gives the crushing strength of concrete.
The strength requirements of concrete.
Calculations of Compressive Strength:
Size of the cube =15cmx15cmx15cm
Area of the specimen (calculated from the mean size of the specimen) =225 cm2
Characteristic compressive strength (f ck) at 7 days =
Expected maximum load =fck x area x fs

Range to be selected is .......................

Similar calculation should be done for 28-day compressive strength
Maximum load applied =..........tones = .............N
Compressive strength = (Load in N/ Area in mm2) =...............N/mm2
Reports of Cube Test:
Identification mark
Date of test
Age of specimen
Curing conditions, including date of manufacture of specimen
Appearance of fractured faces of concrete and the type of fracture if they are unusual
Results of Concrete Cube Test
Average compressive strength of the concrete cube = .............N/ mm2 (at 7 days)
Average compressive strength of the concrete cube =.......... N/mm2 (at 28 days)
Compressive Strength of Concrete at Various Ages

31
The strength of concrete increases with age. The table shows the strength of concrete at
different ages in comparison with the strength at 28 days after casting.

Compressive Strength of Different Grades of Concrete at 7 and 28 Days:

Some Facts on Concrete Strength Test

1-Why Compressive Strength Test of Concrete is Important?
The compressive strength of the concrete cube test provides an idea about all the
characteristics of concrete. By this single test one judge that whether Concreting has been
done properly or not.

2-What is compressive strength of commonly used concrete?

Concrete compressive strength for general construction varies from 15 MPa (2200 psi) to 30
MPa (4400 psi) and higher in commercial and industrial structures.

3-What is compressive strength after 7 days and 14 days?

Compressive strength achieved by concrete at 7 days is about 65% and at 14 days is about
90% of the target strength.

32
4-Which test is most suitable for concrete strength?
A concrete cube test or concrete cylinder test is generally carried out to assess the strength of
concrete after 7 days, 14 days or 28 days of casting.

5-What is the size of concrete cubes used for testing?

For cube test two types of specimens either cubes of 15cm X 15cm X 15cm or 10cm X 10cm
x 10cm depending upon the size of aggregate are used. For most of the works cubical moulds
of size 15cm x 15cm x 15cm are commonly used.

6-Which machine is used for concrete strength test?

The compression testing machine is used for testing the compressive strength of concrete.

7-What is the rate of loading on compression testing machine?

Load should be applied gradually at the rate of 140 kg/cm2 per minute till the Specimens
fails.

WATER ABSORPTION TEST:

The water absorption test determines the water absorption rate (sportively) of both the outer
and inner concrete surfaces. The test involves the measurement of the increase of mass of
concrete samples resulting from the absorption of water as a function of time when only one
face of the specimen is exposed to water. The concrete specimens are either taken from
drilled cores or moulded in cylinders. The samples should be saturated and weighted before
the test. The absorption can be estimated at different distances from the exposed surface.

Factors Influencing Water Absorption of Concrete:

1-Concrete mix proportions.
2-Chemical admixtures and supplementary cementitious materials in the concrete.
3-Composition and physical properties of the cementitious component and the aggregates
4-Entrained air content

33
5-Type and duration of curing
6-Degree of hydration
7-Presence of microcracks
8-Concrete surface treatments such as sealers or form oil
9-Placement method, including consolidation and finishing.
10-Concrete moisture condition at the time of testing.

Purpose: The water absorption test aims to determine the rate of water absorption by
hydraulic cement concrete.

Tools and Materials:

1-Pan
2-Support device, rods, pins, or other devices
3-Top-pan balance, accurate to at least ±0.01 g
4-Timing device
5-Paper towel or cloth
6-Environmental chamber
7-Polyethylene storage containers
8-Caliper
9-Sealing materials like duct tape or aluminium tape
10-Plastic bag or sheeting

Concrete Sample Preparation:

1-Concrete specimens are either drilled cores or moulded cylinders. They should be 100 ±6
mm in diameter and with a length of 50 ±3 mm.
2-The test result is equal to the average test result of a minimum of two samples. The test
surfaces should be at the same distance from the original exposed surface of the concrete.
3-Vacuum saturate the drilled core specimens obtained from the field.
4-After that, measure the mass of each test specimen to the nearest 0.01 g.
5-Put test samples in the environmental chamber at a temperature of 50 ± 2 degrees and RH
of 80 ±3 % for three days.
6-After that, put each specimen in a sealable container, leave a small space between the
sample and container wall to allow free airflow around the specimen.
7-Store the container at 23 ±2 degrees for a minimum of 15 days at the start of the absorption
test.
8-Conduct the absorption procedure at 23 ±2 degrees with tap water conditioned to the same
temperature.
9-Vacuum-saturation Procedure
10-Place specimen directly in vacuum desiccator. Both end faces of the sample must be
exposed.
11-Seal desiccator and start the vacuum pump and maintain it for three hours.
12-Fill separatory funnel with the de-aerated water.
13-With vacuum pump still running, open water stopcock and drain sufficient water into the
container to cover the specimen.
14-Close water stopcock and allow the vacuum pump to run for one additional hour.

34
15-Close vacuum line stopcock, and then turn off the pump.
16-Turn vacuum line stopcock to allow air to re-enter desiccator.
17-Soak specimen underwater in the beaker for 18 ± 2 hours.

Water Absorption Test Procedure:

1-Take out specimens from the storage container and weigh them to the nearest of 0.01 g.
2-Measure a minimum of four diameters of the specimen at the surface to be exposed to
water and calculate the specimen's average diameter.
3-Seal the side surface of specimens with suitable seal material, and seal one end that is not
exposed to water with a plastic sheet that can be secured using an elastic band or other
equivalent systems.
4-Weigh the sealed specimen and record it as the initial mass.
5-Place specimen support at the pan's bottom and pour tap water into the pan until it rises
nearly 3 mm above the specimen supports, see Figure-1. This level of water in the pan needs
to be maintained during the test.
6-Start the timing device and put the unsealed surface of the specimen on the supports in the
pan. Write the time and date of the initial contact of the sample with the water.
7-Record the mass of the specimen after first contact according to the time interval.
.

Figure-1: Schematic Representation of Absorption Test

Calculations:
1-The following expression can be used to compute the absorption rate of concrete:
Absorption (I)= mt/ (a*d) Equation 1
Where:
mt: the change in specimen mass in grams, at the time t,
a: exposed area of the specimen, mm2
d: density of the water, g/mm3

2-As shown in Figure-2, the initial rate of water absorption is the slope of the line that is the
best fit to I plotted against the square root of time using all the points from 1 minute to 6
hours.

35
3-The secondary rate of water absorption is the slope of the line that is the best fit to I plotted
against the square root of time using all the points from
1 day to 7 days.

Figure-2: Initial Absorption rate and Secondary Absorption of Concrete

FAQs
1-What is water absorption rate test of hydraulic-cement concrete?
It is a test method by which the rate of absorption of water by hydraulic cement concrete is
estimated by measuring the increase of mass of the specimen resulting from absorption of
water as a function of time when only one surface of the specimen is exposed to water.

2-How do you calculate the water absorption rate of concrete?

The water absorption rate of concrete is equal to the change in mass of concrete specimen
divided by area of the sample exposed to water times the density of water.

3-What are the factors that influence water absorption of concrete?

1. Concrete mixture proportions
2. Entrained air
3. Moisture condition of the concrete
4. Type and duration of curing
5. Composition and physical properties of cement materials and aggregate
6. Chemical admixtures and supplementary cementitious materials in concrete
7. Concrete surface treatment like sealers
8. Presence of microcracks
9. Concrete placement method, including compaction and finishing

36
10. Degree of cement hydration

SLUMP TEST:
Concrete slump test or slump cone test is to determine the workability or consistency of
concrete mix prepared at the laboratory or the construction site during the progress of the
work. Concrete slump test is carried out from batch to batch to check the uniform quality of
concrete during construction. The slump test is the most simple workability test for concrete,
involves low cost and provides immediate results. Due to this fact, it has been widely used for
workability tests since 1922. The slump is carried out as per procedures mentioned in ASTM
C143 in the United States, IS: 1199 – 1959 in India and EN 12350-2 in Europe. Generally
concrete slump value is used to find the workability, which indicates water-cement ratio, but
there are various factors including properties of materials, mixing methods, dosage,
admixtures etc. also affect the concrete slump value.

Factors which influence the concrete slump test:

1-Material properties like chemistry, fineness, particle size distribution, moisture content and
temperature of cementitious materials. Size, texture, combined grading, cleanliness and
moisture content of the aggregates,
2-Chemical admixtures dosage, type, combination, interaction, sequence of addition and its
effectiveness,
3-Air content of concrete,
4-Concrete batching, mixing and transporting methods and equipment,
5-Temperature of the concrete,
6-Sampling of concrete, slump-testing technique and the condition of test equipment,
7-The amount of free water in the concrete, and
8-Time since mixing of concrete at the time of testing.

Equipment’s Required for Concrete Slump Test:

Mould for slump test i.e. slump cone, non-porous base plate, measuring scale, temping rod.
The mould for the test is in the form of the frustum of a cone having height 30 cm, bottom
diameter 20 cm and top diameter 10 cm. The tamping rod is of steel 16 mm diameter and
60cm long and rounded at one end.
Sampling of Materials for Slump Test:
A concrete mix (M15 or other) by weight with suitable water/ cement ratio is prepaid in the
laboratory similar to that explained in 5.9 and required for casting 6 cubes after conducting
Slump test.

37
 Figure-1: Measuring Slump of Concrete

Procedure for Concrete Slump Cone Test:

1-Clean the internal surface of the mould and apply oil.

2-Place the mould on a smooth horizontal non- porous base plate.
3-Fill the mould with the prepared concrete mix in 4 approximately equal layers.
4-Tamp each layer with 25 strokes of the rounded end of the tamping rod in a uniform
manner over the cross section of the mould. For the subsequent layers, the tamping should
penetrate into the underlying layer.
5-Remove the excess concrete and level the surface with a trowel.
6-Clean away the mortar or water leaked out between the mould and the base plate.
7-Raise the mould from the concrete immediately and slowly in vertical direction.
8-Measure the slump as the difference between the height of the mould and that of height
point of the specimen being tested.

38
 Figure-2: Concrete Slump Test Procedure

NOTE: The above operation should be carried out at a place free from Vibrations or shock
and within a period of 2 minutes after sampling.
Slump Value Observation:
The slump (Vertical settlement) measured shall be recorded in terms of millimetres of
subsidence of the specimen during the test.
Results of Slump Test on Concrete:
Slump for the given sample= _____mm When the slump test is carried out, following are the
shape of the concrete slump that can be observed:

Figure-3: Types of Concrete Slump Test Results

True Slump – True slump is the only slump that can be measured in the test. The
measurement is taken between the top of the cone and the top of the concrete after the cone
has been removed as shown in figure-1.
Zero Slump – Zero slump is the indication of very low water-cement ratio, which results in
dry mixes. These types of concrete are generally used for road construction.

39
 CHAPTER-4:
PLASTIC PRODUCTION
AND
DECOMPOSITION

40
 PLASTIC PRODUCTION AND DECOMPOSITION

Plastic does not decompose. This means that all plastic that has ever been produced and has
ended up in the environment is still present there in one form or another. Plastic production is
booming since the 1950s. For this reason, and as plastic is non-biodegradable, there is a
build-up or accumulation of plastic as more and more are released into the environment. So,
what happens to plastic in the oceans? It accumulates in certain places due to rain, wind, or
ocean currents, but some of it might simply stay in places where plastic waste is dumped.

GROWTH OF PLASTIC PRODUCTION:

Plastic production keeps growing at a rapid pace. It is estimated that about 3% of all plastic
produced every year ends up in the ocean. Since the large-scale introduction of plastic after
the Second World War, a total of 8.3 billion metric tons have been produced. Of this amount,
until 2015, 6.3 billion tons have become waste. Only 9% of that waste plastic is recycled and
12% is incinerated. The remaining 79% ends up in landfills or in the environment, where they
will stay forever in one form or another, as plastic does not decompose. World production of
plastic increased from two million tons in 1950 to 380 million tons in 2018 (this number
includes plastic textile fibers). In 2017, the world produced nearly 350 million tons of plastic
(excluding fibers). About half of all plastic on earth has been produced in the last thirteen
years. If the current trend continues, around the year 2050, there will be about twelve billion
tons of plastic in landfills and in the environment. More plastic is being thrown away than we
can clean up, even though we are doing our best. The only way to reduce and prevent plastic
pollution is to produce and use much less plastic.

41
ACCUMULATION:
For many countries, the rainy season is also the plastic season. The banks of rivers are
washed clean with heavy rain. Those rivers carry all the plastic debris that used to be on the
banks to the sea. Then, some of it is deposited on beaches. In Bali, famous tourist beaches
were covered time and time again with a thick layer of plastic; a ‘garbage emergency’ was
declared in January 2018, after it had rained for five days. Bulldozers were used to clean up
the beaches. The beachfront in Durban, South Africa, was also full of plastic bottles after
heavy rainfall. In countries such as France, Spain and Italy, half of all waste still ends up in
landfills. Much of this plastic blow into the ocean and floating plastic is easily driven by the
wind.

PLASTIC BREAKDOWN:
Larger pieces of plastic in the sea or on land, such as bottles and plastic packaging, become
brittle and gradually break down. This is due to sunlight, oxidation or friction, or by animals
nibbling on the plastic. This plastic break down process goes on forever, although the speed
depends on the circumstances. There are beaches where you not only see large pieces, but
also countless fragments, coloured or faded — the smallest pieces can no longer be
distinguished from grains of sand. Fragments become microplastics and microplastics
become nano plastics. The latter are so small that they are barely visible even under the most
advanced microscopes.

PLASTIC BREAKING DOWN CREATES A BOUILLON:

42
If plastic is non-biodegradable, it does break down until it is no longer visible by the naked
eye. A single plastic bag can fall apart into millions of plastic pieces. As a result of the
ongoing break down process, the number of micro- and nano-plastic particles is increasing
exponentially. This changes the composition of the plastic soup and for this reason, some
prefer to speak of ‘plastic bouillon’ rather than plastic soup. All these small particles of
plastic never fully decompose and are literally everywhere: in water, soil, and air. Because
they are light, they are easily transported across long distances. In 2014, it was discovered by
accident that polar ice appears to be full of microplastics. It was then assumed that
microplastics were carried along with ocean currents and then caught up in the ice. It is now
clear that microplastics are also carried by the wind. It ‘rains’ microplastics every day, even
in the most remote regions of the world. Also, at the deepest place on earth, where the ground
is nearly eleven kilometres below the surface of the water, plastic microfibers have been
found.

HOW HARMFUL IS IT?

It has become evident that microplastics can no longer be completely removed from the
natural world. This would not be a problem if we were sure that they are harmless in the
environment. The point is that there are various indications that they are harmful. What we
know is that all animal species, including humans, ingest them and that the smallest particles
– the nano plastics – can spread throughout the body and possibly reach the organs, including
the brain. We also know that the concentration of these small particles in the environment is
increasing, and it’s likely that the concentration of particles in humans is likely doing the
same. There is no escaping it, and we can only hope that the consequences in the short and
long term are better than expected.

MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION:
Plastic in the environment eventually falls apart into ever-smaller pieces. Microplastics are
pieces smaller than half a centimetre but can be so small that they are no longer visible to the
naked eye. Nano plastics are barely visible even under the most modern microscopes. These
are both referred to as secondary microplastics. Then, there are microplastics released
through the wear of other plastic materials, such as fibres from synthetic clothing or the
abrasion of car tires – these are primary microplastics. They also include microplastics that
manufacturers consciously add to personal care products or paints because they fulfill a
specific function. These microplastics end up in the ocean easily via drains or through other
routes.

43
MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION FROM TIRES & SYNTHETIC
CLOTHING:

It is difficult to imagine the number of microplastics with which we all pollute the
environment. After broken-down pieces of larger plastic debris, tire and clothing wear are the
largest source of primary microplastics in water. In the Netherlands, seventeen million
kilograms of car tire rubber enter the environment every year. That is 1 kilogram per
inhabitant. The world average comes to 0.81 kg of tire wear particles per person per year.
Machine washing and drying clothes is also a major source of microplastics pollution which
is difficult to control. Five kilograms of synthetic clothing releases an average of nine million
microfibers that are carried down the drain with the rinse water.

MICROPLASTICS IN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS:

Microplastics in personal care products are rinsed away with wastewater during use. Each use
may contain 100,000 particles of plastic per scrub, as shown by English research. All those
microplastics end up in water and, ultimately, in the oceans. In recent years, major cosmetics
companies have replaced polyethylene particles with alternatives intended for scrubbing, but
these companies do not mention that there may be dozens of other types of microplastics in
their products. Polyethylene is found in various cosmetics such as eyeliners, mascara,
lipsticks, powders and skincare products. The only guarantee for customers that a care
product is truly free from all microplastics and nano plastics comes from the brand itself. The
‘Look for the Zero’ logo, part of the international Beat the Microbead campaign, provides
this possibility.

44
GHOST NETS:
Fishing nets used to be made from rope. But since the 1960s, they are made from nylon, a
material that is much stronger and cheaper. Nylon is plastic and it does not decompose. That
means that fishing nets lost in the ocean, called ghost nets, continue to catch fish for many
years. Because of this, hundreds of millions of marine animals are killed or injured every year
due to fishing nets pollution.

TANGLED UP IN GHOST NETS:

Ghost nets injure and kill marine animals. Marine mammals that become entangled in
discarded fishing nets, such as dolphins, choke. Fish that get caught starve to death. All these
victims, in turn, are easy prey for other animals. As a result, there is plenty of life around
abandoned fishing nets, which only increases the chance of new victims. In northern
Australia, three tons of ghost nets wash up for every kilometre of coastline. Six of the seven
existing species of sea turtles live in this area. Turtles look for floating objects to hide under,
and from these safe places, they look for food. But turtles do not know that ghost nets are
anything but safe for them and they become entangled. Ghost nets also destroy corals because
they become hooked on it. Powerful currents pull on the fishing nets in the ocean and tear off
pieces of coral, damaging the reefs. Moreover, ships are also at risk when nets become stuck
in their propellers.

45
THE SAD TRUTH BEHIND FISHING NETS POLLUTION:

The problem of ghost nets has been known for years. But research showed that none of the 15
largest fishing companies in the world are including this problem on their agenda, let alone
are taking action to prevent their fishing nets from being left behind in the sea. And even
though one company mentions the problem, none reports on it. Governments are also largely
failing in this regard. Up until now, it has been impossible to identify from which ship a ghost
net came from. As a result, governments cannot recover the clean-up costs and do nothing
about the problem, which moreover occurs mainly in international waters. The sad truth is
that as long as there is no effective international control system, fishing vessels can continue
to dump their old nets into the sea with impunity.

BURNING PROCESS OF PLASTIC WASTE

Burning household plastic waste can affect human health in many ways. Two billion people
globally lack solid waste collection services, and in places without trucks to transport the
garbage or landfills to bring it to, incineration is often the primary method of disposal.

Researchers are investigating which methods are most effective at stopping people from
burning plastic waste. They also are looking into the health impacts of exposures to
contaminants in the smoke. Projects focused on these issues were the subject of a webinar
held on July 12 by the NIEHS Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH).

“Household air pollution from solid fuel combustion is a major contributor to air pollution
and poor health,” said moderator Liam O’Fallon, health specialist in the Population Health
Branch. Burning plastic, in particular, can generate and release pollutants like microplastics,
bisphenols, and phthalates — all toxins that can disrupt neurodevelopment, endocrine, and
reproductive functions.

Plastic burning in Guatemala:

In Guatemala, 71 percent of the households burn waste as the primary means of disposal,
according to Lisa Thompson, Ph.D., an associate professor in Emory University’s Nell
Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and the Rollins School of Public Health. Though
cleaner cookstove implementation projects in Guatemala have focused on improving health,
not much research has focused on burning plastic in household fires, Thompson said,
Plastic burns hot and fast, so it is also used as kindling in cooking fires.
Outdoor air pollution from sources like cars and household air pollution due to actions like
burning fuels represent the single largest risk factor for ill health, contributing to nearly 7
million premature deaths in 2019, according to Thompson.
To address these issues, Thompson is working with an interdisciplinary team, including
researchers at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala and Guatemalan Indigenous
community members in Santa Maria Kalapa, Jalapa to see how interventions might work in
real-world conditions. Thompson’s NIEHS-funded research “ECOLECTIVOS” will explore

46
village-level interventions, including workshops that focus on community recycling and
reforestation projects.
“We know that plastic has pretty much inundated low- and middle-income countries where
it’s cheap and available,” she said. “With this project, we hope that we can find alternatives
to burning plastic in household fires through refusing and reducing use, reusing and
repurposing, and recycling,” she said.

Burn sites affect tribal lands:

A solid waste disposal project by the Center for Native Environmental Health Equity
Research (see sidebar) and three sovereign tribal nations — the Navajo Nation, the Crow
Nation, and the Cheyenne River Sioux — was discussed by Joseph Hoover, Ph.D., from the
University of Arizona, who is a core faculty member for the Indigenous Resilience Center.
Few solid waste disposal options exist on the tribal lands, resulting in frequent open dumping
and waste burning. Over the last two years, the researchers and community partners collected
water, soil, and plant samples and placed passive silicone bands at burn locations identified
by community partners. They catalogued the location of the burn sites, the number of people
who live or work near them, the dumping and burning frequency, extent of the dumping, and
intensity of the burns.
The team then mapped the dump sites and prioritized sites for further sampling. The passive
silicone bands placed at varying distances detected chemicals present in the materials coming
off the burn sites.
“The bands can detect as much as 1,500 different chemicals,” said Hoover. “We are working
with our community partners on what to do when the bands detect chemicals we don’t know
as much about.”
The other samples will help to determine the geographic extent of the toxins and whether
plants take them up in their tissues. The team plans to present results after public meetings
held in the communities, helping to fulfil the Centre’s mission, said Hoover.

47
FIG- PLASTIC BURNING AFFECT ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

48
 CHAPTER-5:
PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT(AMENDMENT)
RULES, 2022

49
PLASTIC WASTE
MANAGEMENT(AMENDMENT)RULES, 2022

Plastic since its invention in 1907, has been cheaper and much handier than other materials.
Nowadays, plastic can be found in almost everything. It is being used in multiple sectors like
packaging, health, transportation, construction, building, and others. Due to its continuous
use and easy accessibility single-use plastic has become the most popular among plastics. It is
difficult to recycle though. Increasing use of plastic and improper plastic waste management
poses a grave danger to our environment and ecology. The quantity of plastic that is
generated is huge whereas the quantity that is being sustainably managed and discarded is
minimal.

Plastic Usage across the Globe:

Across the globe, manufacturing industries produce approximately 400 million tonnes of
plastic waste per year, of which the packaging industry is the biggest contributor. The global
recycling percentage is very low, only 9%. The Report released by CPCB (2019-20) reveals
that annually 3.4 million metric tonnes of plastic waste are generated. Per capita, plastic
consumption in India is 11 Kgs as per a report released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs.
Plastic Waste Management:
As the use of plastic is increasing at a very fast pace, plastic waste management becomes the
utmost priority. Plastic can be managed in two specific ways- either it can be recycled or
reprocessed into a secondary material or it can be incinerated.
In order to sustainably manage plastic waste, the Molefe & CC came out with Plastic Waste
Management Rules, 2016 which were further amended in 2018, 2021, and 2022. PWMR
2016 and 2018 introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and PWMR 2021
defined single-use plastic. Recently introduced PWM (Amendment) Rules, 2022 sets out
clear guidelines regarding EPR.

50
Provisions under new guidelines:
Classification of plastic packaging
Plastic packaging has been classified into four categories mentioned below:

Category I:
Rigid plastic packaging; like pickle jars, yogurt containers, wine bottles, whip cream cans, etc

Category II:
Flexible plastic packaging of a single layer or multilayer (more than one layer with different
types of plastic), plastic sheets or like and covers made of plastic sheet, carry bags, plastic
sachet or pouches.

Category III:
Multi-layered plastic packaging (at least one layer of plastic and at least one layer of material
other than plastic.

51
Category IV:
Plastic sheet or like used for packaging as well as carry bags made of compostable plastics.

EPR targets and obligations of PIBO’S:

PIBOs stand for Producers, Importers, and Brand-Owners. PIBOs are given certain targets in
order to comply with their EPR obligations. In addition to PIBOs, Plastic Waste Processors
are also given targets. These targets include:
1-EPR target
2-Obligation for recycling
3-End of life disposal
4-Obligation for use of recycled plastic content.

EPR certificates:
. This will create a market mechanism for plastic waste similar to the carbon credit trading
market which will contribute towards climate change mitigation.

Centralized online portal:

52
CPCB is creating an online system that will deal with all matters related to plastic waste
management including registration, filing of annual returns, and guidelines related to the
implementation of EPR for plastic packaging. This will be established by 31st March 2022.

Environmental Compensation:
CPCB will levy environmental compensation on PIBOs functioning in more than two states,
in case they fail to fulfill their EPR targets. This compensation would be based upon the
polluter pays principle. SPCB will levy compensation on PIBOs functioning in one or two
states and UTs. The EPR targets which remain unfulfilled in a particular year will be carried
forward to the next year for a period of three years.
CPCB or SPCB or PCC will keep the funds collected under environmental compensation in a
separate escrow account. This fund will be used for the sustainable management of plastic
waste.
Committee for EPR under PWM Rules:
CPCB will form a committee under the chairpersonship of the Chairman, CPCB. This
committee will be given the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of EPR and
supervision of the centralized portal.
Importance of the New Rules:
Sustainable management of Plastic Waste is a necessity in today’s world. If we can manage
plastic waste in an environmentally sound manner, plastic can be shifted from waste to a
renewable resource. Plastic waste management puts forward a unique opportunity to
contribute towards 14 of the 17 SDGs.

53
Moving from a linear economy towards a circular economy:
The model of linear economy which is based upon the take-make-use-dispose principle is no
longer an option for us. The model of circular economy which is based upon the take-make-
waste approach is a sustainable solution. In the circular economy model, the natural
ecosystem is regenerated, materials and products are kept in use for as long as possible and
waste is managed in a sustainable manner. Towards the end of the process, resources are not
discarded or destroyed, rather they are reused, repaired, remanufactured, or recycled,
retaining their value. In order to keep our resources intact and protect our environment and
ecology, we need to develop a robust plastic waste management system, as plastic poses a
huge threat to our resources and biodiversity. These rules and other steps taken in the
direction of plastic waste management will enable us to take a step towards the circular
economy.

54
55
 CHAPTER-6:
OUR WORK: MAKING CUBES BY REPLACING
COARSE AGGREGATE WITH PLASTIC WASTE: -

56
OUR WORK: MAKING CUBES BY REPLACING COARSE
AGGREGATE WITH PLASTIC WASTE: -

Tests perform on the concrete:

1-Compressive strength test:
Take 3 cube from the curing tank after 7 days and 3 cubes after 28 days then put it in the
compression machine and turn it on until the cube cracks then taking the result from the
machine.

Fig – Universal Testing Machine

2-Absorption test: Taken other cube from the curing tank after 7 days and 28 daysthen put
it in oven dry for 24 hours at 110 0C then get it from the oven and measure the weight then
put it for 1 day at curing tank then measure its weight another time.

Fig-Water Absorption Test of Cube

57
3-Slump test:
It measures the workability of concrete. The test is carried out using a mould known as a
slump cone. The cone is placed on a hard-non-absorbent surface. This cone is filled with
concrete in three stages, each time it is tamped using a rod of standard dimensions. At the end
of the third stage, concrete is struck off flush to the top of the mould. The mould is carefully
lifted vertically upwards, so as not to disturb the concrete cone. Concrete subsides. This
subsidence termed as slump.

Fig- Slump Test

PROGRESS REPORT:
Place where we made a cube by using plastic waste as a coarse aggregate- COLLEGE
WORKSHOP.
Materials used-
1-Cement
2-Water
3-Fine aggregate
4-Coarse aggregate
5-Plastic waste

QUANTITY OF MATERIALS USED:

Volume of mould=0.15x0.15x0.15 cubic-metre

=0.003375 cubic-metre
For M-20 grade of concrete has proportion=1:1.5:3=1.54
Quantity of material used:
1-Cement=1/5.5x1.54x0.003375x1440
=1.36kg
2-Fine aggregate=1.5/5.5x 1.54 x0.003375x1600=2.26kg
3-coarse aggregate(10mm) =3/5.5 x 1.54 x0.003375=0.002835x1600=4.536 kg

58
4-Plastic percentage in coarse aggregate=20%
5-Then quantity of plastic=0.97 kg
6-Total amount of coarse aggregate (without plastic) =1.36+2.26+4.53kg=8.15kg
7-Use of factor=1.54

SOME PHOTGRAPHS WHILE WORKING:

Crushing of plastic waste:

59
Clinkers and oil:

Cement and Morang:

60
Mixing process:

Tamping by tamping rod-35 times:

61
Final formation of a cube:

Compressive strength test of a cube:

62
63
64
65
 CHAPTER-7:
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE

66
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE
Plastics play a significant role in our society, and wastes generated at the end of the usage of
these plastics are inevitable. Therefore, in order to properly manage these plastic wastes
while improving the sustainability of the environment, their use for various construction
applications is a viable option. This overview has explored extensively the current research
that has been done on the use of various recycled plastic waste for construction applications.
Based on this overview, the following conclusions can be drawn
•The use of PW for construction applications will solve both the solid waste management
problem and depleting deposits of raw materials used for construction purposes. In addition,
the use of PW in different construction applications supports the sustainability trend of a
circular economy.
•The use of PW for construction applications creates a pathway to use these wastes for long
term applications compared to short term ones such as recycling into new products which will
end up as waste within a short period of time.
•The possible use of PW as binder, aggregates and fibres makes it a viable replacement for all
components in cementitious composites, with somewhat acceptable detrimental effects on the
performance of the resulting composite.
•The use of PW for various construction application will lead to various revenue generation.
Despite the numerous limitations of the application of plastic wastes for construction
applications mentioned earlier there still exists a great prospect of its use with the progression
of research and technological advancement. Also, it is anticipated that the government and
construction regulatory body will put forward regulations that will encourage the use of
Brecycled wastes such as RPW for construction purposes.

67
 REFERENCE

[1]. Hassani, A., Ganjidoust, H., Maghanaki, A.A., 2005, Use of plastic waste (poly-ethylene
terephthalate) in asphalt concrete mixture as aggregate replacement. Waste Management &
Research 23, 322–327.
[2]. Indrajit Patel, C D Modhera, Study effect of polyester fibers on engineering properties of
high volume fly ash concrete, Journal of Engineering Research and Studies.
[3]. IS 2386 (Part 5):1963 Methods of test for aggregates for concrete - Part 5 soundness.
[4]. IS 2386(Part 1):1963 Methods of test for aggregates for concrete- Part I particle size and
shape.
[5]. IS 2386(Part 4):1963 Methods of test for aggregates for concrete: Part 4 mechanical
properties.
[6]. IS 383:1970 – Specification for coarse and fine aggregates from Natural sources for
concrete.
[7]. IS:4031(Part 4):1988-Methods of physical tests for hydraulic cement (Determination of
consistency of standard cement paste).
[8]. Marzouk, O.Y., Dheilly, R.M., Queneudec, M., 2007,Valorization of post-consumer
waste plastic in cementitious concrete composites,Waste Management 27, 310–318.
[9]. Rebeiz, K.S., Fowler, D.W., 1996. Flexural strength of reinforced polymer concrete made
with recycled plastic waste. Structural Journal 93 (5), 524–530.
[10]. Soroushian, P., Mirza, F., Alhozaimy, A., 1995,Permeability characteristics of
polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete,ACI.

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 STUDENTS DETAILS

1- NIKHIL SHARMA 2-IAMAM HUSSAIN

ROLL NO.-2004310009017 ROLL NO.-
2004310009010
B.TECH(CIVIL ENGG.) B.TECH(CIVIL ENGG.)
B.N.C.E.T,LUCKNOW B.N.C.E.T,LUCKNOW

3-ANOOP YADAV 4-HIMANSHU VERMA

ROLL NO.-2004310009002 ROLL NO.-
2004310009009
B.TECH(CIVIL ENGG.) B.TECH(CIVIL ENGG.)
B.N.C.E.T,LUCKNOW B.N.C.E.T,LUCKNOW

69