Thesis (MSc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Civil Engineering

The use of plastic, fly ash, and silica fume in different applications helps lower the
amount of CO2 emissions and environmental landfilling that comes from the
manufacture of cement. It also tackles the difficulties in disposing of solid waste and
demolishing buildings, encouraging the recycling of materials to create a more
sustainable environment. Selecting materials that ensure the quality and attributes of
concrete while also giving top priority to environmental effect, human health safety,
and long-term use in a variety of applications is crucial when thinking about
sustainability. By using fly ash and silica fume in lieu of cement and recycled plastic
in place of fine aggregate, this research seeks to minimize costs while improving
sustainability and environmental advantages. The integration of various amounts (5%,
10%, 15%, 20%, 40%, and 50%) of fly ash, recycled aggregate, and silica fume was
investigated for this thesis project. A superplasticizer was added at a dosage of 1%
while maintaining a constant water-binder ratio of 0.52. The experiment examines the
behavior of mortar specimens by analyzing their slump, compressive strength, splitting
tensile strength, water absorption, density, and resistance to fire. Mix M6 (5% sılıca
fume, 5% fly ash and 10% recycled plastic) showed the greatest slump compared to
the control mix. Mixes M6 (5% sılıca fume, 5% fly ash and 10% recycled plastic) and
M7 (10% sılıca fume, 10% fly ash and 20% recycled plastic) demonstrated a 12.4%
and 3.5% boost in compressive strength relative to the control mix. Additionally,
mixes M6 (5% sılıca fume, 5% fly ash and 10% recycled plastic) and M7 (10% sılıca
fume, 10% fly ash and 20% recycled plastic displayed significant strength in flexural
and tensile aspects.