Experimental Determination of Plastic Granules and Marble Powder on the Characteristics of Concrete

Abstract

The incorporation of waste materials into concrete production provides an innovative solution to environmental and sustainability challenges. This study investigates the effects of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) granules as a partial replacement for coarse aggregates and marble powder as a partial substitute for cement. Concrete mixes were prepared with plastic granules replacing coarse aggregates at 0%, 12%, 18%, 24%, 30%, 36%, 42%, 48%, 54%, and 60%, and marble powder replacing cement at 5%, 10%, and 15%. Compressive strength, split tensile strength, and workability were evaluated for all mixes. The results reveal that increasing the proportion of plastic granules reduces compressive strength and workability, while marble powder enhances compressive strength at lower replacement levels but decreases workability. This study provides insights into optimizing waste material use in concrete to balance sustainability and performance.