Structural Performance of Reinforced Concrete Slab with Sugarcane Bagasse Ash and Plastic Flakes as Partial Replacement

Abstract

This research aims to reduce the weight of concrete structural members and promote the use of eco-friendly concrete. To achieve this, plastic flakes and sugarcane bagasse are used as additional materials in concrete production, which can partially replace fine aggregates and cement respectively. This makes structural members lighter, reducing the overall load transmitted to the foundation and the construction cost. The study investigates the effect of plastic flakes and sugarcane bagasse ash on the performance of a reinforced concrete slab. It includes workability, compressive, flexural, tensile strengths, and water absorption of different mix proportions in the fresh state. Various sugarcane and plastic flake percentage replacements of cement and fine aggregates are also investigated. The results show that the 5% SCBA and 5% plastic flake replacement ratio has better mechanical properties compared to the control concrete and other mix ratios. This ratio is used in casting the reinforced concrete slab, whose structural behavior is then investigated in terms of ultimate load, ultimate deflection, load-deflection relationship, and crack patterns. The study shows that the incorporation of sugarcane bagasse ash and plastic flakes as partial replacements improves the bearing of ultimate load capacity. Still, the slab portrays higher deflection than the control slab. The crack patterns appear in the tension zone of the slab, and the slab fails in flexion.