Abstract:
Concrete paving blocks were first introduced in
Holland to replace paver bricks which had become scarce due to
the post-war building construction boom. In Kenya, paving
blocks are used in construction of pavements in both residential
and commercial areas. They can be used in areas with light or
heavy traffic. Solid waste management has been a big challenge
in Kenya for years. With growing population and demand for
housing, it is of paramount importance to develop alternative
uses of plastic waste. Concrete paving blocks containing PET
flakes at 5%, 10%, 15%,25%,50%, 75% and 100% replacement
ratios for coarse aggregates were prepared against a 30MPa
control sample. Compressive strength, tensile strength and water
absorption tests were carried out. at 5% replacement ratio, the
paving blocks had compressive strength of 44.18MPa which is
suitable for medium traffic areas.
