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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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Carlos DM, Almeida F, Carneiro JR, Lopes ML. Influence of Mechanical Damage under Repeated Loading on the Resistance of Geogrids against Abrasion. Materials (Basel) 2021; 14:3544. [PMID: 34201998 DOI: 10.3390/ma14133544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Geogrids are building materials widely used for soil reinforcement that can be affected by the action of many degradation agents throughout their service life. The potential negative effect of the degradation agents should be properly estimated and accounted for during the design phase. The main aim of this work was to study the influence of mechanical damage under repeated loading on the resistance of geogrids against abrasion. Three geogrids (one extruded and two woven) were exposed in isolation to mechanical damage under repeated loading and abrasion tests, followed by the successive exposure to both degradation tests. The damage suffered by the geogrids was evaluated by visual inspection and by tensile tests. Based on the changes found in tensile strength, reduction factors were determined. The reduction factors obtained directly from the successive exposure were compared to those resulting from a method in which the reduction factors obtained for the isolated effect of each degradation agent were multiplied. Results indicated that the abrasion process tended to be affected by a previous exposure to mechanical damage under repeated loading and that the multiplication of the reduction factors obtained for the isolated effects of the degradation agents may not correctly represent their combined effect.
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Almeida F, Carlos DM, Carneiro JR, Lopes MDL. Resistance of Geosynthetics against the Isolated and Combined Effect of Mechanical Damage under Repeated Loading and Abrasion. Materials (Basel) 2019; 12:ma12213558. [PMID: 31671544 PMCID: PMC6862549 DOI: 10.3390/ma12213558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 10/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The behaviour of materials used for developing engineering structures should be properly foreseen during the design phase. Regarding geosynthetics, which are construction materials used in a wide range of engineering structures, the installation on site and the action of many degradation agents during service life may promote changes in their properties, endangering the structures in which they are applied. The evaluation of the damage suffered by geosynthetics, like installation damage or abrasion, is often carried out through laboratory tests. This work studied the behaviour of five geosynthetics (three geotextiles and two geogrids) after being individually and successively exposed to two degradation tests: mechanical damage under repeated loading and abrasion. The short-term mechanical and hydraulic behaviours of the geosynthetics were analysed by performing tensile tests and water permeability normal to the plane tests. Reduction factors were determined based on the changes occurred in the tensile strength of the geosynthetics. Findings showed that mechanical damage under repeated loading and abrasion tended to affect the mechanical and hydraulic properties of the geosynthetics and that the reduction factors calculated according to the traditional method may not be able to represent accurately the damage suffered by the materials when exposed successively to the degradation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Almeida
- Construct-Geo, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - David Miranda Carlos
- Construct-Geo, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - José Ricardo Carneiro
- Construct-Geo, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Maria de Lurdes Lopes
- Construct-Geo, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
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