Utilizing fly ash from municipal solid waste and polypropylene fiber to improve the flexural properties of compacted cement sand

Abstract The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials and the environmental burden associated with cement production highlight the need for eco-friendly alternatives in civil infrastructure. This study aims to develop a sustainable and mechanically enhanced cement-compacted sand (CCF...

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Main Authors: Chalermpon Wungsumpow, Sakol Pochalard, Keeratikan Piriyakul
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-07-01
Series:Discover Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01626-7
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author Chalermpon Wungsumpow
Sakol Pochalard
Keeratikan Piriyakul
author_facet Chalermpon Wungsumpow
Sakol Pochalard
Keeratikan Piriyakul
author_sort Chalermpon Wungsumpow
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials and the environmental burden associated with cement production highlight the need for eco-friendly alternatives in civil infrastructure. This study aims to develop a sustainable and mechanically enhanced cement-compacted sand (CCFFS) composite by partially replacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) and reinforcing the matrix with polypropylene fiber. A series of experiments were conducted using a fixed cement content of 5% by weight, with MSWIFA replacing OPC at ratios of 0–100%, and polypropylene fiber added in varying contents from 0 to 2.0% by volume. The flexural performance was evaluated based on ASTM C1018 and ASTM C-09 standards, and microstructural characteristics were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the optimal mixture containing 25% MSWIFA and 1.5% polypropylene fiber achieved significant improvements over the control mix, including a 38% increase in peak flexural strength (0.59 MPa), a 170% increase in ductility index (24.17) and a 63% increase in toughness (1.25 N·m at L/150 deflection). SEM analysis revealed partial bonding at the fiber–matrix interface, with mechanical interlocking compensating for the hydrophobic nature of polypropylene fibers. These findings suggest that integrating MSWIFA and polypropylene fiber into CCFFS not only enhances mechanical performance but also reduces cement consumption and promotes circular waste utilization. The developed material offers a viable solution for sustainable construction, particularly in applications requiring improved flexural behavior and environmental responsibility.
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spelling doaj-art-77e82d3aa8d447d683eb33dda9baeec92025-08-20T03:04:17ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842025-07-016112310.1007/s43621-025-01626-7Utilizing fly ash from municipal solid waste and polypropylene fiber to improve the flexural properties of compacted cement sandChalermpon Wungsumpow0Sakol Pochalard1Keeratikan Piriyakul2Operations Center of Integrated Innovation Research and Development Under Industrial Standards, KMUTNB Techno Park, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North BangkokBuilding and Landscape Division, Suan Dusit UniversityCenter of Excellence in Structural Dynamics and Urban Management, Science and Technology Research Institute, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology, College of Industrial Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North BangkokAbstract The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials and the environmental burden associated with cement production highlight the need for eco-friendly alternatives in civil infrastructure. This study aims to develop a sustainable and mechanically enhanced cement-compacted sand (CCFFS) composite by partially replacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) and reinforcing the matrix with polypropylene fiber. A series of experiments were conducted using a fixed cement content of 5% by weight, with MSWIFA replacing OPC at ratios of 0–100%, and polypropylene fiber added in varying contents from 0 to 2.0% by volume. The flexural performance was evaluated based on ASTM C1018 and ASTM C-09 standards, and microstructural characteristics were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the optimal mixture containing 25% MSWIFA and 1.5% polypropylene fiber achieved significant improvements over the control mix, including a 38% increase in peak flexural strength (0.59 MPa), a 170% increase in ductility index (24.17) and a 63% increase in toughness (1.25 N·m at L/150 deflection). SEM analysis revealed partial bonding at the fiber–matrix interface, with mechanical interlocking compensating for the hydrophobic nature of polypropylene fibers. These findings suggest that integrating MSWIFA and polypropylene fiber into CCFFS not only enhances mechanical performance but also reduces cement consumption and promotes circular waste utilization. The developed material offers a viable solution for sustainable construction, particularly in applications requiring improved flexural behavior and environmental responsibility.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01626-7Flexural strengthMunicipal solid waste (MSW)Fly AshPolypropylene fiberCement compacted sand
spellingShingle Chalermpon Wungsumpow
Sakol Pochalard
Keeratikan Piriyakul
Utilizing fly ash from municipal solid waste and polypropylene fiber to improve the flexural properties of compacted cement sand
Discover Sustainability
Flexural strength
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Fly Ash
Polypropylene fiber
Cement compacted sand
title Utilizing fly ash from municipal solid waste and polypropylene fiber to improve the flexural properties of compacted cement sand
title_full Utilizing fly ash from municipal solid waste and polypropylene fiber to improve the flexural properties of compacted cement sand
title_fullStr Utilizing fly ash from municipal solid waste and polypropylene fiber to improve the flexural properties of compacted cement sand
title_full_unstemmed Utilizing fly ash from municipal solid waste and polypropylene fiber to improve the flexural properties of compacted cement sand
title_short Utilizing fly ash from municipal solid waste and polypropylene fiber to improve the flexural properties of compacted cement sand
title_sort utilizing fly ash from municipal solid waste and polypropylene fiber to improve the flexural properties of compacted cement sand
topic Flexural strength
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Fly Ash
Polypropylene fiber
Cement compacted sand
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01626-7
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