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Experimental Investigation on the Performance of Rigid Pavement Incorporating Non-Degradable Waste, Quarry Dust, and M-Sand
Summary
This study isn't really about human health—it's about road construction. Researchers found that mixing shredded plastic waste (up to 10-15%) with quarry dust and manufactured sand can actually make concrete roads stronger while cutting down on river sand mining and diverting plastic from landfills. One thing worth noting: this research didn't test whether these roads shed microplastics over time as they wear down, which could be a useful follow-up question for environmental and health researchers given how much attention microplastic exposure is getting lately.
The rapid depletion of natural river sand and the growing accumulation of non-degradable plastic waste have created significant environmental challenges in the construction industry. This study presents an experimental investigation on the performance of rigid pavement concrete incorporating non-degradable plastic waste, quarry dust, and manufactured sand (M-sand) as partial replacements for conventional fine aggregates. Concrete mixes were prepared with varying percentages of shredded plastic waste (10%, 15%, and 20%) in combination with quarry dust and M-sand, and the specimens were evaluated for workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength, and water absorption. Results indicate that the mix containing 10% plastic waste achieved improved compressive and flexural strength compared to conventional concrete due to enhanced particle packing and matrix densification, whereas higher replacement levels resulted in gradual strength reduction because of weaker interfacial bonding. The findings demonstrate that plastic waste replacement up to 10–15%, combined with quarry dust and M-sand, is technically feasible for rigid pavement applications while promoting sustainable construction practices and reducing dependence on natural sand