This paper reveals a study performed on reinforced concrete with artificial aggregate concrete block infill composite beams to innovate a lightweight reinforced concrete utilizing polyethylene (PE) waste materials, such as waste plastic bags. Six beam specimens of normal reinforced concrete (NRC) and different block infill replacement zone positions RCAI (RZ 1) beams containing 100% MAPEA with 50, 95, and 1,000 mm width, height, and length, respectively, were provided for the block infill, whereas RCAI (RZ 2) with different block infill positions containing a 100% MAPEA with 50, 115, and 1000 mm width, height, and length were provided and tested under low impact load. The steel impactor with blunt nose dropped at 0.6 m height which equivalent to 3.5 m/s. The behaviors of the beams were studied relative to the impact force-time and displacement-time histories, the flexural/ bending cracks, and the impact failure. Results show that the overall failure modes of all the beam specimens were successfully recorded. In addition, the residual displacements of the RZ 2 was almost same than those of the RZ 1 and the significantly lower than those of the NRC. In the reinforced concrete beams, less stressed concrete near the neutral axis can be replaced by certain light weight material like waste plastic bags as modified artificial polyethylene aggregates to serve as an artificial aggregate.

Abstract. The strength contribution of Artificial Polyethylene Coarse Aggregate (APECA) as a coarse aggregate replacement in concrete are explored. The compression tests is carried out on twenty-one specimens of concrete cube with 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% of APECA by utilizing two stages: The concrete specimens containing 6% of APECA as coarse aggregate are heated at different temperatures, the strength of concrete mixes with 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% APECA were compared under normal condition (un-heated) and after exposed by 250ºC. Based on literatures, 6% of APECA had an optimal percentage that contribute to the compressive strength of concrete compared to 0%, 3%, and 9% of APECA concrete. Thus, 6% ratio of APECA concrete was applied for continuous observation, which applied various temperatures at 150ºC, 200ºC, and 250ºC. As results, it is observed that the 6% APECA concrete at 150ºC had the highest compressive strength than other temperature (200ºC and 250ºC). Also, it is found that the APECA concrete strength decrease as exposed by higher temperature. However, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results reveals that the APECA melting in the concrete and filled the micro-crack of concrete. It can be concluded that, the APECA has the potential to be a coarse aggregate replacement and more detailed investigations are however demanded to modify the APECA in order to increase its physical properties.