Statistical Distributions of the Strength and Fracture Toughness of Recycled Polyethylene-Reinforced Laterite Composites
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper presents the results of combined experimental and theoretical studies of the statistical distributions of the strength and fracture toughness of recycled polyethylene-reinforced laterite composites for potential applications in building materials. The composites are produced with different volume percentages (0–30% v/v) and particle sizes (, , , , , and ) of powdered polyethylene (PE) in a laterite matrix. The composites with and 20-volume percentage of PE are shown to have the best combination of flexural-compressive strengths and fracture toughness. The statistical variations in the flexural-compressive strengths and fracture toughness are well characterized by the Weibull distributions.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Prof. Holmer Savastano, Prof. Khosrow Ghavami, and Prof. Ting Tan for useful technical discussions. Appreciation is also extended to the World Bank STEP-B program, the World Bank African Centers of Excellence Program, the African Development Bank, the African Capacity Building Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Institution, and the African University of Science and Technology for their financial support.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 28 • Issue 3 • March 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 23, 2015
Accepted: Jul 13, 2015
Published online: Sep 9, 2015
Discussion open until: Feb 9, 2016
Published in print: Mar 1, 2016
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