Mechanical Behavior of Bentonite Reinforced with Crushed pet

by

Phillipe Mourão Ribeiro, MSc.

Ph.D. Student, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Michéle Dal Toé Casagrande, D.Sc.

Associate Professor, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil

Key words: Bentonite, soil reinforcement, PET, direct shear test, bentonite bentonite mixtures with PET.

Contact Address:

Philipe Mourão Ribeiro

Department of Civil Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Edifício Cardeal Leme - 3° andar

CEP: 22451-900  –  Gávea  –  Rio de Janeiro  –  Brazil

Phone: + 55 21 3527-1188

E-mail: mourao.eng@gmail.com

May 26^th, 2019

ABSTRACT:

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a suitable final destination material, as it takes around 600 years for its decomposition and irregular disposal in a given state of great harm to society. Despite the large amount of recycled material, only 50% of the material produced has this destination. In order to reduce the amount of polymers in nature, this work aims at the mechanical behavior of a bentonite mixed with PET micronized. The study showed the use of crushed PET around 1 mm in different contents (5% and 10%), making possible the application of resistance parameters, making possible the conservation of waste in geotechnical works. The development of the study was characterized as a mechanism of physical and mechanical characterization, such as direct shear tests. The shear tests were performed with the confining voltage of 50kPa, 100kPa and 150kPa, without reading the neutral pressure. With the results obtained from the direct shear tests, it can be seen that the mixture in PET is 5% with crushed PET (B95PPET5), being more favorable the use in geotechnical works, having a relation in the resistance parameters. The cohesive intercept of peak and residual increased residuals of 6kPa for 10kPa and 1kPa for 5kPa, respectively. The friction angle of peak and residual reduction from 5^o to 4^o and 4^o to 3^o, respectively. Despite the possibility of substitution of the GCL for the mixture, however, it can be applied in other types of geotechnical works.