Investigational and Numerical Examination on Bending Response of Reinforced Rubberized Concrete Beams Including Plastic Waste

In this investigational study, the fracture and bending performance of reinforced concrete beams (R-C-Bs) with varying proportions of plastic waste (PW), considered as fine aggregate (FA), were assessed via experimental and numerical examination. To achieve this aim, altered concrete series were designed, with the aggregate sizes changed within the range of 0 to 25 mm. To enhance the concrete, PW was selected to be used in combination with aggregate material measuring 0 to 5 mm in particle size, as an alternative FA, with proportions of 0%, 5%, 15%, 30%, and 45%. Experiments were performed to examine the performance of the R-C-Bs. It was found that a 30% PW proportion offered the optimum results in terms of displacement capability. Furthermore, ANSYS v.19 software was chosen to form 3D finite element models (F-E-Ms) of R-C-Bs to be compared with the experimental data. The experimental and 3D F-E-M investigations offered remarkably close-fitting bending and rupture performances. Then, a structure was modeled using SAP2000, and the strength of the R-C-Bs was then used in an RC structural model. The results show that the forces on the construction caused reductions while also increasing the PW proportion. Moreover, it was realized that the F-E-M simulations and experiments produced tiny cracks with highly matched formations.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the fracture and bending performance of reinforced concrete beams (R-C-Bs) with different proportions of plastic waste as fine aggregate through experimental and numerical examination. The results showed that a 30% proportion of plastic waste offered the best displacement capability. Additionally, 3D finite element models of the R-C-Bs created using ANSYS v.19 software closely matched the experimental data in terms of bending and rupture performances.