Evaluation of recycled polymer composite materials in cement-based mixtures

Harry George Rodin

This thesis is an investigation of the effect of recycled polymer composite materials incorporated in cement-based mixtures to improve mechanical performance. The first portion of this study focuses on the use of cured carbon fiber composite material (CCFCM) in pervious concrete (PC). The CCFCM was added to the PC at three volumetric contents of three, four, and five percent which were compared to a zero percent (control) in terms of hydraulic and mechanical properties. During 28-day testing, CCFCM mixtures split tensile and flexural strengths (MR) showed 57-84% and 36-65% increases compared to the control, respectively. The CCFCM mixtures also resulted in 41-54% higher post-peak toughness during MR testing and reduced mass loss when tested using the Los Angeles Machine. CCFCM content up to four percent resulted in increased strengths and toughness without compromising hydraulic properties of the PC. Higher percentage of CCFCM may possibly be used as a replacement of coarse aggregate which, will be studied in future work. The second portion of this thesis focuses on a glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) mortar feasibility experiment that was broken into two phases to find the optimum GFRP size and volumetric percentage as a replacement of sand. For Phase I, the GFRP was sieved into four different sizes and tested at the same volumetric percentage in the mixture. During this phase, 7-day compressive strength, MR, and toughness's were compared to find the optimum GFRP size. Subsequently, Phase II implemented the GFRP at three volumetric replacements of sand. During both phases, the GFRP mixtures were compared to a control mixture to evaluate the influence of the GFRP. Phase II included an alkali-silicate reaction (ASR) test to evaluate potentially harmful expansion induced by the GFRP. The MR and toughness of the GFRP mixtures increased by 2-36% and 6-114% compared to the control, respectively. None of the GFRP mixtures showed expansion caused by ASR. The use of GFRP in mortar showed promising results that should be expanded in future studies. Overall, the use of GFRP and CCFCM in cement-based materials helps improve mechanical properties and toughness and has potential for future research.

Evaluation of recycled polymer composite materials in cement-based mixtures

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