Ecological Applications of Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastic in Producing Modified Subbase Soil

Abstract

Plastic materials can now be intelligently and creatively utilised in civil engineering applications such as the creation of soil improvement materials to accomplish economic goals while diminishing the environmental impact of plastic waste. In this study, the influence of adding recycled polyethylene terephthalate granules (PET)) to the strength properties of subbase soil was investigated. The adopted fractions of waste plastic granules ranged between 2.5% and 12.5% by volume, and optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD) were measured in modified subbase soil with these various waste plastic contents. The California bearing ratio test (CBR) was then implemented for each alternative. The outcomes illustrated that the modified subbase properties were significantly enhanced by the addition of waste plastic granules and that, for best results, the optimal percentage of recycled polyethylene terephthalate granules to be added was 10% by the volume of the subbase material. The increment in the California bearing ratio value for modified subbase as compared with the subbase without waste plastic reached as high as 36%, suggesting that this method can provide a potential practical use for waste plastic as well as achieving enhancement of subbase soil layers for flexible pavement.