Geotechnical Engineering Journal of the SEAGS & AGSSEA ISSN 0046-5828
Vol. 54 No. 3 September 2023
Engineering Behavior of Soil Stabilized with Byproducts of Plastic Recycling Plant
V. P. Devipriya, S. Chandrakaran, K. Rangaswamy
ABSTRACT: Reutilization of waste materials in constructional activities is always preferable due to the economical point of view and as an environmentally friendly approach. Hence the use of recycled plastics as an additive in soils during constructional activities is an economic alternative for many soil improvement techniques. The main objective of this study is to improve the engineering properties of the soil samples with the addition of by products from plastic recycling plant. In this study two forms of by products (plastic flakes and pellets) produced during different stages of plastic recycling process is directly used as an additive for soil samples. The engineering properties of the soil samples randomly mixed with the recycled plastic materials are evaluated in the laboratory. Flakes and pellets form of high-density polyethylene plastics are mixed with the soil sample (0 to 2%) and the strength and compressibility properties of each sample are evaluated.
Consolidated undrained triaxial test and one-dimensional compression tests are conducted on each sample and the effect of the plastic addition is studied. From the test results it is observed that the shear strength of the sample was increased with the addition of plastic flakes and pellets addition. Compressibility parameters of the sample were reduced with the addition of recycled plastic into the sample. Maximum improvement in the engineering parameters were obtained with the addition of 2% of plastic flakes.
KEYWORDS: Recycled plastic materials, Soil stabilization, Shear strength characteristics, and Compressibility.
