Cover
Vol. 19 No. 2 (2025)

Published: December 31, 2025

Pages: 35-50

Research Article

The Impact of Expanded Polystyrene Beads and Waste Plastic Fibers on Fresh and Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete

Sabreen Khaled Husain* 1 Abdulkader Al-Hadithi
1Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Anbar, Ramadi, Iraq
History
  • Received: June 5, 2025
  • Revised: October 10, 2025
  • Accepted: October 15, 2025
  • Available Online: December 31, 2025
DOI

https://doi.org/10.37650/ijce190204

Abstract

Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is a pioneering concrete that can gush beneath its own load, filling the formwork, and achieving full consolidation while maintaining sufficient cohesion to handle the concrete without segregation or bleeding issues. To develop EPS- fiber reinforced SCC, waste materials such as Expanded Polystyrene Beads (EPS) and waste plastic fibers (Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) were incorporated. This study investigated the response of SCC to the incorporation of different ratios of PET fibers (0.35%, 0.5%, and 0.75%) and 10% of EPS particles and its impact on fresh and mechanical properties of SCC mixtures. Five SCC mixtures were designed, including the reference mixture, 10% EPS mixture, and three volume fractions (Vf) of PET mixtures. Test results indicated that EPS particles had an optimistic effect on fresh properties and a slight negative effect on mechanical properties. While PET fibers revealed a slight negative impact on fresh properties, they also improved mechanical properties. The highest and lowest values in fresh properties tests, including slump flow, T50, V-funnel, L-box, and sieve segregation were (780mm for (E %10) mix, 5.4 seconds for (0.75% f) mix, 19 second for (0.75% f) mix, 0.85 for (E %10) mix, and 10.77% for (R) mix), respectively and (670mm for (0.75% f) mix, 1.8 second for (E %10) mix, 6 seconds for (E %10) mix, 0 for (0.75% f) mix, and 3.28% for (0.5% f) mix), respectively. While, the highest and lowest values in mechanical properties tests, including density, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive strength, and splitting tensile strength were (2305 kg/m3 for (R) mix, 4.2 km/s for (R) mix, 48 MPa for (0.5% f) mix, and 3.66 MPa for (0.5% f) mix), respectively and (2170 kg/m3 for (0.5% f) mix, 4.03 km/s for (0.75% f) mix, 31 MPa for (E %10) mix, and 2.33 MPa for (E %10) mix), respectively

Keywords

References

  1. Abdulqadir, Z., & Mohammed, A. A. (2023). Impact of Partial Replacement of Ordinary Aggregate by Plastic Waste Aggregate on Fresh Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete. Tikrit Journal of Engineering Sciences, 30(1), 37-53.
  2. Abed, M., & de Brito, J. (2020). Evaluation of high-performance self-compacting concrete using alternative materials and exposed to elevated temperatures by non-destructive testing. Journal of Building Engineering, 32, 101720.
  3. Al-Alusi, M. R. M., Fayadh, O. K., & Al-Hadithi, A. I. (2024). Studying the possibility of structural performance improvement of RC beams made of lightweight Ponza aggregate with the addition of PWFs. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 9(10), 365.
  4. Al-Alusi, M. R. M., Kurdi, N. H., Al-Hadithi, A. I., & Hammad, A. (2024). An experimental investigation of the mechanical characteristics and drying shrinkage of a single-size expanded polystyrene lightweight concrete reinforced with waste plastic fibres. Construction and Building Materials, 415, 135048.
  5. Al-Hadithi, A. I., Almawla, S. A., & Mohammed, M. K. (2023). Fresh, mechanical and impact properties of self-compacting lightweight concrete containing waste PET fibers. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 8(10), 268.
  6. Al-Hadithi, A. I., & Hilal, N. N. (2016). The possibility of enhancing some properties of self-compacting concrete by adding waste plastic fibers. Journal of Building Engineering, 8, 20-28.
  7. Al-Hadithi, A. I., Khalaf, J. A., Hilal, N., Al-Fahdawi, F. A., Harrat, Z. R., & Tawfik, T. A. (2025). Thermal Performance of Ferrocement Slabs Reinforced with Recycled PET Fibers. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 1-25.
  8. Al-Hadithi, A. I., Noaman, A. T., & Mosleh, W. K. (2019). Mechanical properties and impact behavior of PET fiber reinforced self-compacting concrete (SCC). Composite Structures, 224, 111021.
  9. AL-Radi, H. H. Y., Dejian, S., & Sultan, H. K. (2021). Performance of fiber self compacting concrete at high temperatures. Civil Engineering Journal, 7(12), 2083-2098.
  10. Al‐Hadithi, A. I., Hilal, N. N., Al‐Gburi, M., & Midher, A. H. (2023). Structural behavior of reinforced lightweight self‐compacting concrete beams using expanded polystyrene as coarse aggregate and containing polyethylene terephthalate fibers. Structural Concrete, 24(5), 5808-5826.
  11. Alkayem, N. F., Shen, L., Mayya, A., Asteris, P. G., Fu, R., Di Luzio, G., . . . Cao, M. (2023). Prediction of concrete and FRC properties at high temperature using machine and deep learning: a review of recent advances and future perspectives. Journal of Building Engineering, 108369.
  12. Almohammedi, A. A. S., Naimi, S., & Al-Hadithi, A. I. (2023). Compressive strength and impact behavior of Pet fiber reinforced self-compacting lightweight concrete using expanded polystyrene beads As coarse aggregate. Migration Letters, 20(S12), 375-393.
  13. Almohammedi, A. A. S., Naimi, S., & Al–Hadithi, A. I. (2023). Compressive Strength and Impact Behavior of Pet Fiber Reinforced Self-Compacting Lightweight Concrete Using Expanded Polystyrene Beads As Coarse Aggregate. Migration Letters, 20(S12), 375-393.
  14. ASTM C33. “Standard specification for concrete aggregates.” American Society for Testing and Material.
  15. ASTM C192 / C192M-18. Standard Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Test 109Specimens in the Laboratory, West Conshohocken, PA.
  16. ASTM C494. ‘C494/C494M-17 Standard Specification for Chemical Admixtures for ‎Concrete’, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.‎.
  17. ASTM C597-16. Standard Test Method for Pulse Velocity Through Concrete, West Conshohocken, PA, .
  18. ASTM C642-13. Standard Test Method for Density ‚Absorption ‚and Voids in Hardened Concrete; ASTM International: West Conshohocken, PA, USA.
  19. ASTM C1240 "Standard specification for silica fume used in cementitious
  20. mixtures," ASTM International: West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2005.
  21. BS EN, -., 2019 Compressive strength of test specimens. British ‎Standards Institution.‎C496-2011, A. ‘C496/C496M Standard Test Method for Splitting Tensile Strength of ‎Cylindrical Concrete Specimens’. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1520/C0496.‎
  22. Domone, P. (2007). A review of the hardened mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites, 29(1), 1-12.
  23. EFNARC. ‘The European guidelines for self-compacting concrete’, BIBM, et al, 22, p. ‎‎563.
  24. Faraj, R. H., Ali, H. F. H., Sherwani, A. F. H., Hassan, B. R., & Karim, H. (2020). Use of recycled plastic in self-compacting concrete: A comprehensive review on fresh and mechanical properties. Journal of Building Engineering, 30, 101283.
  25. Frhaan, W. K. M., Abu Bakar, B., Hilal, N., & Al-Hadithi, A. I. (2022). Relation between rheological and mechanical properties on behaviour of self-compacting concrete (SCC) containing recycled plastic fibres: A review. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, 26(10), 4761-4793.
  26. Hassan, H. Z., & Saeed, N. M. (2024). Fiber-reinforced concrete: a state of the art. Discover Materials, 4(1), 101.
  27. Hassan, S. A. A., & Fawzi, N. M. (2025). Influence of replacing aggregates by recycled waste plastic on the mechanical properties of concrete: A review. Samarra Journal of Engineering Science and Research, 3(1), 55-72.
  28. Hilal, N., Al Saffar, D. M., & Ali, T. K. M. (2021). Effect of egg shell ash and strap plastic waste on properties of high-strength sustainable self-compacting concrete. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 14, 1-11.
  29. Hosseini, S. A. (2020). Application of various types of recycled waste materials in concrete constructions. Advances in concrete construction, 9(5), 479-489.
  30. IQS (1984) ‘Aggregate from Natural Sources for Concrete and Construction’, Central ‎Agency for Standardization and Quality Control, Baghdad, IQS [Preprint].
  31. Iraqi Specifications No. (5)(2019)‎, f. P. C. r. IS 13311 (Part I), N.-D. T. o. C. –Methods of test(Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity).
  32. Jaskowska-Lemańska, J., Kucharska, M., Matuszak, J., Nowak, P., & Łukaszczyk, W. (2022). Selected Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete with Recycled PET Aggregate. Materials, 15(7), 2566.
  33. Khatib, J., Herki, B., & Elkordi, A. (2019). Characteristics of concrete containing EPS. Use of recycled plastics in eco-efficient concrete, 137-165.
  34. Madhavi, C., Reddy, V. S., Rao, M. S., Shrihari, S., Kadhim, S. I., & Sharma, S. (2023). The effect of elevated temperature on self-compacting concrete: Physical and mechanical properties. Paper presented at the E3S Web of Conferences.
  35. Mahmoud, A. A., El-Sayed, A. A., Aboraya, A. M., Fathy, I. N., Abouelnour, M. A., Elfakharany, M. E., Nabil, I. M. (2025). Influence of elevated temperature exposure on the residual compressive strength and radiation shielding efficiency of ordinary concrete incorporating granodiorite and ceramic powders. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 3572.
  36. Mahmoud, Z. A., Al-Hadithi, A. I., & Aldosary, M. H. (2023). The effect of waste polyethylene terephthalate fibers on the properties of self-compacting concrete using Iraqi local materials. Iraqi Journal of Civil Engineering, 17(2), 19-33.
  37. Mansir, D., Gambo, M. M., Yar’adua, F. H., & Abduljabbar, F. (2019). Factors affecting the use of expanded Polystyrene (eps) for sustainable housing Construction in Nigeria. Paper presented at the Procs West Africa Built Environment Research (WABER) Conference.
  38. Medher, A. H., Al-Hadithi, A. I., & Hilal, N. (2021). The possibility of producing self-compacting lightweight concrete by using expanded polystyrene beads as coarse aggregate. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 46, 4253-4270.
  39. Medher, A. H., AL-Hadithi, A. I., & Hilal, N. N. (2022). Fresh and hardened properties of lightweight self-compacting concrete incorporating with waste plastic and Expanded Polystyrene Beads. Iraqi Journal of Civil Engineering, 14(2), 16-21.
  40. Mohammed, M. K., Al-Hadithi, A. I., & Mohammed, M. H. (2019). Production and optimization of eco-efficient self compacting concrete SCC with limestone and PET. Construction and Building Materials, 197, 734-746.
  41. Pulkit, U., & Adhikary, S. D. (2022). Effect of micro‐structural changes on concrete properties at elevated temperature: current knowledge and outlook. Structural Concrete, 23(4), 1995-2014.
  42. Raja, K. S., & Dinesh, A. (2016). Study on self compacting concrete–a review. Int. J. Eng. Res. Technol.(IJERT)(5), 384-387.
  43. Ramli Sulong, N. H., Mustapa, S. A. S., & Abdul Rashid, M. K. (2019). Application of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in buildings and constructions: A review. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 136(20), 47529.
  44. Rasekh, H., Joshaghani, A., Jahandari, S., Aslani, F., & Ghodrat, M. (2020). Rheology and workability of SCC Self-compacting concrete: materials, properties and applications (pp. 31-63): Elsevier.
  45. Sadrmomtazi, A., Gashti, S. H., & Tahmouresi, B. (2020). Residual strength and microstructure of fiber-reinforced self-compacting concrete exposed to high temperatures. Construction and Building Materials, 230, 116969.
  46. Seethapathi, M., Branesh Robert, J., Rajesh, P., & Shajin, F. H. (2024). Development of lightweight self-compacting concrete incorporating waste-expanded polystyrene using hybrid approach. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 25(1), 2393312. doi: 10.1080/10298436.2024.2393312
  47. Shatarat, N., & Katkhuda, H. (2023). Thermal effect on the flexural performance of lightweight reinforced concrete beams using expanded polystyrene beads and pozzolana aggregate. Engineered Science, 27, 1029.