Application of reliability index in statistical model to assess durability of concrete made with plastic waste aggregates subjected to carbonation.

One of the feasible solutions for the solid waste management problem is to use recycled plastic waste as a replacement for natural aggregates in construction applications, which reduces pollution and protects natural resources from depletion. Corrosion of steel reinforcement due to carbonation is one of the important factors affecting the durability of reinforced concrete, which leads to a decrease in serviceability and safety of structures. This study aimed to compute the probability of corrosion initiation using the reliability index for concrete whose coarse aggregate was partially replaced with high impact polystyrene (HIPS). This study employed a statistical carbonation depth prediction model incorporating recycled aggregates which relate carbonation in concrete with 28-day compressive strength, cement content, aggregates' equivalent water absorption, and CO ₂ content in the atmosphere. A reliability index of 1.28, which infers the probability of corrosion initiation less than 10%, has been used for inference. Results showed that a slight increase in concrete cover for concrete with HIPS replacements was required to exhibit similar service life as that of conventional concrete.
(© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)