ENHANCING MECHANICAL AND DURABILITY PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE WITH POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE AND RICE HUSK ASH

The building sector is investigating sustainable substitutes for traditional materials. In this study, the effects of adding Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Rice Husk Ash (RHA) to concrete are examined to determine how these additives affect the properties of the material. The main objective of this study is to find the optimum proportions of PET and RHA to improve the structural and environmental performance of concrete. This study aims to improve the workability, mechanical, and durability properties of concrete by replacing fine aggregates with RHA (0%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15%) and cement with PET (0%, 7.5%, 10%, and 15%). According to the study’s results, Mix M5 provides enhanced performances compared to all other properties evaluated. This study shows the use of RHA and PET as sustainable alternatives in concrete production. The results support resource optimization and waste reduction in the construction industry by advancing the development of environment-friendly construction materials.