CHAPTER-7

CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
 Chapter: 7

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

7.1. Introduction

Thesis is concluded with the closing remarks suggesting a wider application

opportunity for the waste plastics used as a modifier in the cement concrete mix
and waste tire in the form of treated crumb rubber in Cement Stabilised Soil

Blocks.

The aim of the literature review conducted as part of the research was to provide

the intellectual context for the work and to determine how far other researchers
had reached. It was also meant to determine whether the literature on use of

solid wastes in precast blocks were accessible.

Chapter 2 explored the concept of use of Solid waste in precast blocks and
Acceptability in Cement concrete blocks and Cement Stabilised Soil Blocks. It

was found that literature on the subject was scarce and inaccessible. Since both
Cement concrete blocks and Cement Stabilised Soil Blocks develop their
microstructure from the precipitation of solids from solution following the
hydration of cement, documented findings on the former were used to try to
understand related phenomenon in the latter. It is recommended that this

approach be pursued further. From the literature survey conducted, it was found
that no uniformly accepted expression for use of solid wastes in precast blocks

existed.

It is therefore recommended that the use of Solid waste and Acceptability in

Cement concrete blocks and Cement Stabilised Soil Blocks be regarded as "a
measure of its ability to sustain its distinctive characteristics of strength,

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dimensional stability and resistance to weathering under conditions of use for the
duration of the service lifetime of the wall of which it forms part".

This concept of Solid waste in precast blocks is based on three important

parameters:
(i) Type of and amount of solid Waste used
(ii) Intended function of the block (for walling);
(iii) Conditions of exposure (weathering elements);
Due to the above effects, the properties of a block can be altered over time, and
so their Strength will not remain constant. Strength of the blocks is therefore
more dependent on the amount of solid waste used than just time.

7.2. Treated crumb rubber in Cement stabilized soil blocks

Waste tires present environmental; health, and safety hazards. Rainwater

accumulates in tire piles creating an ideal environment for mosquitoes, which are
known to transmit West Nile Virus. Another hazard is fire. A massive tire fire
under a major highway can damage and affect commuters and businesses in the
region over several months. Large tire piles can burn for weeks causing the
rubber to decompose into oil, which can pollute ground and surface water.

The following conclusion can be made from the results of the investigation. The
experimental test results showed that on treating crumb rubber that is the surface
of powdered tire rubber was modified by adding reagents to increase its
adhesion to cement paste.

Compressive strength and Flexural strength of CSSB reduced due to the

inclusion of treated crumb rubber as a result its use in major load bearing walls is
limited, but it has few desirable characteristics such as lower density and higher
fracture toughness

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The fracture toughness calculated from the area under the load-deflection curve
up the point of failure indicate, at 10% replacement, of 7% cement content the
toughness of crumb rubber CSSB was found to be more than that of the CSSB
without crumb rubber, even though the strength was lower. This was due to the
higher post-peak response; these properties can be advantageous in
construction applications. And mechanical properties such as flexural strength
arid wear resistance improved with the use of tire rubber particles.

This Research presents the findings of an experimental laboratory investigation

on using crumb rubber to manufacture a Cement stabilized soil block. Recycling
scrap tires has become an increasingly important issue since these materials
have been banned from landfills and current applications are insufficient for the
growing volume of scrap tires. Tire chips and their granular counterpart, crumb
rubber, have been successfully used in a number of civil engineering
applications. When crumb rubber is added partially replacing cement in Cement
stabilized soil blocks, Research has shown that mass density and compressive
strength decrease with increasing rubber content, while ductility increases. These
findings suggest that treated crumb rubber can be used in Cement stabilized soil
blocks, otherwise known as controlled low-strength material, because of the
reduction in end-product density and strength. Prior research has also shown
that leachate derived from crumb rubber does not pose deleterious impacts to
the environment. In summary, crumb rubber proves to be a technically beneficial,
environmentally benign, and economically viable when used as partial
replacement to cement in Cement stabilized soil blocks.

Crumb rubber offers other benefits when used in Cement stabilized soil blocks,
such as improved ductility and higher thermal insulation. These and other
technical benefits need to be explored further.

Soil cement stabilized blocks using crumb rubber could possibly be used in the
following areas: Where minor vibrations damping is needed, such as in car parks

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and foundation pad for small machinery, for trench filling and pipe bedding and
paving slabs. Because of its light unit weight may be suitable for architectural

applications like false facades, stone backing, and interior construction.

Thesis is concluded with the closing remarks suggesting a wider application

opportunity for the treated crumb rubber waste used in Cement stabilized block

production without unduly affecting its performance, to some extent solving the
environmental problem of waste tire disposal.

7.3. Use of Waste Plastic in cement concrete construction

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Waste plastic material as
substitutes for cement and fine aggregates on the mechanical properties of
cementitious concrete composites.

It can be concluded that granulated waste material such as plastics can be used
in cementitious concrete composites without seriously hindering its mechanical

properties up to the composition range 4 and 5 percent, used in this study. The

notion that such granulated waste materials would render the mix unworkable
was not supported by this study. Furthermore, no clear evidence of deterioration
of the composite durability was noticed. This research also supports the idea that
all Plastic waste materials, as used within the ranges specified, acted as crack
arrestors in the composites prepared.

As expected, the untreated Waste plastic did not bond well to the cementitious
matrix, while the Treated Waste plastic seemed more bonded to it. Plastic
material substitutes were noticed to arrest the cracks partially or deflected them
when encountered. In general, the use of granulated plastics is, indeed, a viable
solution to recycling such materials in concrete composites.

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Further investigations have to be carried out regarding Use of Modified waste
plastic. One major topic, which has to be studied, is related to the influence of
cement type, modified waste plastic, aggregate shape and surface properties on
the bonding between cement paste, waste plastic and coarse aggregate. Also, a
thorough investigation has to be carried out in order to obtain an appropriate
relationship between the water-cement ratio and the aggregate-cement -waste
plastic physical interface.

Waste plastic used as modifier in cement concrete mix is applicable in the

construction of rigid pavements in order to reduce the thickness of the pavement
blocks and increase the durability of the pavement. From analysis, we come to
conclusion that the compressive strengths of modified cement concrete
increases by more than that of plain cement concrete when the optimum modifier
content is reached.

Using waste plastics as modifier the quantity of cement used can be reduced by
that much amount and thereby reduce the cost of construction.

The modified cement concrete mix can be used in construction of rigid

pavements and reduce the thickness of pavement. When used for rigid pavement
construction, it may withstand fatigue at higher temperatures hence it can be
adopted in tropical regions and also reduction in thickness of pavement can be
achieved which is provided to cater the warping stress. It can be used in
construction of small drainage works and concrete tiles of footpath or walkers.

It helps to avoid the general disposal technique of waste plastics namely land
filling and incineration which have certain burden on ecology

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7.4. Conclusion

Reduction in waste plastics and waste tire Saves our environment by reducing
the amount of solid Waste generated by consumer and industry. It also reduces
greenhouse gas emissions and helps prevent global climate change. This is
because much of the energy used in industrial processes and in transportation
involves burning fossil fuels like gasoline, diesel and coal, the most important
sources of carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions into the environment.
Additional benefits are derived from reduced emissions from incinerators and
landfills and by slowing the harvest of trees, which are carbon sinks.
In addition to greenhouse gases, Reduction in waste plastics and waste tires can
reduce a range of pollutants from entering the air and water. By decreasing the
need to extract and process new raw materials from the earth, use of waste
r
plastics and waste tire Can eliminate the pollution associated with the non
biodegradable solid waste and initiate environmentally acceptable blocks, with
lesser usage of Cement. The material extraction, refining, processing,
manufacturing and transportation of Cement pollute the air, land and water with
toxic materials, such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, methane, and sulfur
dioxides. Further reductions are achieved as a result of energy saving, thus
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants. By using Non
biodegradable solid waste in precast blocks and manufacturing into valuable
products, jobs are created, adding, significant value to the entire economy.

Energy savings are a very important environmental benefit of reduction in Non

biodegradable solid waste, because using energy require the consumption of
scarce fossil fuels and involve emissions of numerous air and water pollutants.
The steps in supplying waste tire and waste plastics to industry (including
collection, processing and transportation) typically use less energy than the steps
in supplying virgin materials to industry (including extraction, refining,
transportation and processing).Additional energy savings associated with use of
solid waste material accrue in the manufacturing process itself, since the

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materials have already undergone processing. Environmental problems have
become so complex that many individuals feel they can have no effect on them.
Problems like global warming, hazardous waste, loss of rain forests, endangered
species, acid rain, the ozone layer, and the municipal waste crisis can feel out of
our control. At the very least, these problems require group and corporate action
or government intervention. But there are some things the individual can control.
Our waste reduction and use of waste material in precast blocks can make a
difference.

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