Equations for Predicting Flexural Strength and Compressive Strength of Plastic Concrete Pavement Blocks

Abstract

The influence of plastic content within the range of 0% - 60% as replacement for sand volume, water cement (w/c) ratio of 0.30 – 0.50 and curing age of 7 days – 28 days on flexural strength and compressive strength of plastic concrete pavement blocks (PCPBs) was investigated. All the mixtures were proportioned with a fixed aggregate / cement ratio of 4.5. Based on the experimental results, the flexural strength and the compressive strength of the PCPBs were calculated by considering the predictor variables (water cement ratio, curing age and plastic content). Equations derived based on the results from the experimental work are proposed to predict the flexural strength and the compressive strength of the developed PCPBs. The effect of water cement ratio, curing age and plastic content on flexural strength and compressive strength of PCPBs was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The equations are only capable of predicting the flexural strength and the compressive strength of plastic concrete products, if the w/c ratio, the curing age and the aggregate cement ratio used are within the tested range.

Keywords: water cement ratio, plastics, curing age, flexural strength, compressive strength.