Performance Evaluation of Environmentally Sustainable Precast Cement Concrete Paver Blocks Using Fly Ash and Polypropylene Fibre

Abstract

Paver blocks are manufactured from zero-slump plain concrete, which is small element used for outdoor applications and flexible road surfaces. IS:15658 (2006) permits the use of 33- grade ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as the minimum for manufacturing paver blocks, but the usage of this type of cement is restricted in India nowadays. In this context, we have studied OPC 43-grade cement replaced by 30% Class F-grade fly ash and the addition of 0.0% and 0.5% polypropylene fibre (PPF) to evaluate the suitability of paver blocks in terms of the climatic conditions, movement of vehicles and road surfaces in India. The synergistic effect of the mechanical properties of paver blocks revealed that a 30% replacement of OPC with fly ash and 0.3% PPF is more suitable for the manufacturing of paver blocks. The obtained results from the reference mixes indicated that the mechanical properties of paver blocks have increased with respect to the age of the blocks. The present study is important for paver block manufacturers as it fulfils the mix design, strength and durability requirements for Indian roads associated with the utilization of waste materials such as fly ash. Additionally, the study will help the national economy increase by 20% in the future, along with the sustainability of virgin materials.

Laboratory Innovation to Investigate Concrete Paving Blocks Compressive Strength

“…This research demonstrates fundamental differences in the results obtained from testing blocks and cubes for CPB using data featuring different thicknesses, even from mixtures with the same composition and materials. Other researchers have reported similar findings, stating that the difference in compressive strength values is noticeable when comparing different thicknesses [3,7,14]. In the current study, the block test produced higher compressive strength values than the cube test for the same material, and such a difference became more pronounced as the thickness of the CPB decreased.…”

“…A road structure consists of several layers, of which the surface layer is essential in producing durable and functional pavement. Various materials for road surfaces can be used, including asphalt concrete, cement concrete, or concrete paving blocks (CPBs) [1][2][3]. Therefore, carefully selecting road surface covering materials is essential to building effective pavement structures [4,5].…”