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This paper investigates the use of fly ash as a replacement for sand in polymer concrete (PC). It is shown that a replacement of 15% by weight of sand with fly ash improves the compressive strength of unreinforced PC cylinders by about 30% and the flexural strength of steel-reinforced PC beams by about 15%. Other improvements in properties are relatively minor and include the tensile bond strength of PC under thermal cycling and the creep compliance of the PC under sustained loading. The replacement of sand with fly ash, however, does not seem to have an impact on the shear strength of PC. Potential applications of PC using fly ash are numerous, including thin overlays on bridges and floors, repairing concrete bridges and pavements, and the production of precast components such as wall panels, floor blocks, and underground vaults. CE Database subject headings: Polymer concrete; Fly ash; Recycling; Compressive strength; Flexural strength; Shear strength; Bonding strength.

The disposal of coal combustion byproducts wastes has been a pressing issue during the past few decades. In parallel, the formulation of high-performance materials that are stronger and more durable than conventional cement-based materials has emerged as an issue of considerable importance in the construction industry. This paper shows that it is possible to utilize fly ash, a byproduct of coal burning, to produce a high-performance material at a potentially lower cost and without compromising its structural integrity. The high-performance material reported in this study is polymer concrete (PC) made with fly-ash fillers. The PC is investigated for its compressive strength, flexural strength, creep deformation, and bond strength of PC overlay on portland cement concrete under thermal cycling. The use of fly ash as an aggregate in PC is very promising because it enhances the physical properties of the material and particularly its compressive and flexural strength. PC using fly ash could be used as an overlay in pavement, bridges, and runways or in precast applications such as utility, transportation, and hydraulic components. CE Database keywords: Polymer concretes; Fly ash, Compressive strength; Recycling; Creep.

Many cities and towns are rapidly depleting landfill space. As a result, some communities have opted to incinerate their municipal solid waste (MSW). The motive behind the choice is that incineration significantly reduces the volume of solid waste in need of disposal, destroys the harmful organic compounds that are present in MSW, and provides an attractive source of alternative energy. As a result, the generation of MSW ash is expected to increase in the future. However, disposing the MSW ash in landfills may not always be an environmentally or an economically feasible solution. This paper addresses the various issues associated with MSW ash and its possible use in construction applications. The innovative use of MSW ash in the production of polymer concrete (PC) has also been investigated. Experimental results show that good-quality PC could be produced using MSW ash. The potential construction applications of PC using MSW ash are also reported.