This paper reports on a comprehensive research program and practical application of concrete made from recycled plastic materials for use in municipal concrete infrastructure. A systematic life-cycle analysis (LCA) is first conducted to evaluate the global warming potential of concrete containing recycled plastic waste. Using the outcomes of this analysis critical allowable plastic aggregate (PA) content which maintains mechanical properties and minimises global warming potential is identified. Using the LCA results as guidance, laboratory investigations at different scales are undertaken to develop mix designs using recycled plastic materials and to characterize the physical, mechanical and durability-related properties of the waste-based concrete products. Having developed concrete mixes that meet practical and commercial requirements, field applications of the concrete mixes as pavement materials were undertaken to demonstrate the concrete has appropriate engineering properties to enable its use in municipal infrastructure. The field demonstrations support the further development of new concretes with viable sustainable alternative materials as aggregate replacement and are expected to encourage industry and end-user take up of recycled plastic waste materials in concrete for municipal construction application.

本文报告了由再生塑料材料制成的混凝土用于市政混凝土基础设施的综合研究计划和实际应用。首先进行系统生命周期分析 (LCA) 以评估含有再生塑料废物的混凝土的全球变暖潜力。使用该分析的结果，确定了保持机械性能和最小化全球变暖潜能的关键允许塑料骨料 (PA) 含量。以 LCA 结果为指导，进行了不同规模的实验室调查，以开发使用再生塑料材料的混合设计，并表征废物混凝土产品的物理、机械和耐久性相关特性。开发出满足实际和商业要求的混凝土混合物，将混凝土混合物作为路面材料进行现场应用，以证明混凝土具有适当的工程特性，使其能够在市政基础设施中使用。现场演示支持使用可行的可持续替代材料作为骨料替代品的新混凝土的进一步开发，并有望鼓励工业和最终用户在市政建设应用中使用混凝土中的再生塑料废料。