title: Characterisation of recycled mixed plastic solid wastes: Coupon and full-scale investigation.
abstract: In Australia, the plastic solid waste (PSW) comprises 16% by weight of municipal solid waste but only about one-fourth are recycled. One of the best options to increase the recycling rate of mixed PSW is to convert them into products suitable for construction. However, a comprehensive understanding on the mechanical behaviour of mixed PSW under different loading conditions is important for their widespread use as a construction material. This study focuses on investigating the mechanical behaviour of recycled mixed PSW containing HDPE, LDPE and PP using coupon and full-scale specimens. From coupon test, the strength values were found to be 14.8, 19.8, 20, 5.6MPa in tension, compression, flexure and shear respectively, while the modulus of elasticity are 0.91, 1.03, 0.72GPa in tension, compression and flexure respectively. The coefficient of variance of the measured properties for coupon and fullscale specimens was less than 10% indicating that consistent material properties can be obtained for mixed PSW. More importantly, the strength properties of mixed PSW are comparable to softwood structural timber. The flexural behaviour of full-scale specimens was also predicted using fibre model analysis and finite element modelling. Comparison showed that using coupon specimen's properties, the flexural behaviour of the full-scale specimens can be predicted reliably which can eliminate the costly and time consuming arrangements for full-scale experimental tests.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC), Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia.
authors.forename: Rohan Muni
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bajracharya
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC), Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia. Electronic address: allan.manalo@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Allan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Manalo
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC), Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia.
authors.forename: Warna
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karunasena
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC), Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Kin-Tak
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003252:Construction Materials; D004548:Elasticity; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D059027:Recycling / Q000379:methods*; D033081:Shear Strength; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D011126:Polypropylenes; D062611:Solid Waste; D020959:Polyethylene
keywords: Coupon; Fibre model analysis; Full-scale; Mechanical behaviour; Mixed plastic solid waste; Simulation