USE OF ECOLOGICAL LIGHTWEIGHT AGGREGATES IN REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Abstract

The article discusses the possibility of utilization of both waste from CHP plants (Combined heat and power plants), i.e. fly ash, and PET plastic waste (polyethylene terephthalate), through processing into lightweight aggregate used to construct reinforced concrete beam elements to protect the natural environment. Properties of the utilized lightweight artificial aggregates are presented. Selected results of experimental tests in the area of load-bearing capacity and deformability of reinforced concrete beams made in the model scale are presented. An analysis of tests showed that beam elements made with artificial aggregate, despite its lower resistance to crushing, do not differ in terms of their load-bearing capacity compared to reinforced concrete beams made with recycled aggregate, with better flexural strength properties in certain cases.