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Vicuña L, Jaramillo-Fierro X, Cuenca PE, Godoy-Paucar B, Inga-Lafebre JD, Chavez Torres JL, García JF, Guaya D, Febres JD. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Geogrids Manufactured from Recycled Plastics for Slope Stabilization-A Case Study. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1151. [PMID: 38675071 PMCID: PMC11053962 DOI: 10.3390/polym16081151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the sustainable use of recycled plastics, specifically polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), in the manufacture of geogrids for geotechnical and civil engineering applications. Plastics were collected from a recycling center, specifically targeting containers used for food, cleaning products, and other domestic packaging items. These plastics were sorted according to the Möbius triangle classification system, with HDPE (#2) and PP (#5) being the primary categories of interest. The research methodologically evaluates the mechanical properties of PP/HDPE (0/100, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25 and 100/0% w/w) composites through tensile and flexural tests, exploring various compositions and configurations of geogrids. The results highlight the superiority of pure recycled HDPE processed into 1.3 mm thick laminated yarns and hot air welded for 20 to 30 s, exhibiting a deformation exceeding 60% in comparison to the PP/HDPE composites. Through SolidWorks® Simulation, it was shown that the adoption of a trigonal geogrid geometry optimizes force distribution and tensile strength, significantly improving slope stabilization efficiency. Based on the results obtained, a laboratory-scale prototype geogrid was developed using an extrusion process. The results underscore the importance of careful composite design and yarn configuration selection to achieve the desired mechanical properties and performance in geogrid applications. It emphasizes the potential of recycled plastics as a viable and environmentally friendly solution for stabilizing slopes, contributing to the reduction in plastic waste and promoting sustainable construction practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenin Vicuña
- Departamento de Producción, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (L.V.); (P.E.C.); (J.D.I.-L.); (J.D.F.)
| | - Ximena Jaramillo-Fierro
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (J.F.G.); (D.G.)
| | - Paúl Eduardo Cuenca
- Departamento de Producción, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (L.V.); (P.E.C.); (J.D.I.-L.); (J.D.F.)
| | - Brenda Godoy-Paucar
- Carrera de Ingeniería Industrial, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja 1101608, Ecuador;
| | - Jorge Daniel Inga-Lafebre
- Departamento de Producción, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (L.V.); (P.E.C.); (J.D.I.-L.); (J.D.F.)
| | - Jose Luis Chavez Torres
- Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, Facultad de Ingenierías y Arquitectura, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja 1101608, Ecuador;
| | - Juan Fernando García
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (J.F.G.); (D.G.)
| | - Diana Guaya
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (J.F.G.); (D.G.)
| | - Juan Diego Febres
- Departamento de Producción, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (L.V.); (P.E.C.); (J.D.I.-L.); (J.D.F.)
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