Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Cleaner Production. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Cleaner Production, 183, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.095
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Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Development, Characterisation and Finite Element Modelling of Novel Waste Carpet Composites for Structural Applications
AU - Sotayo, Adeayo
AU - Green, Sarah
AU - Turvey, Geoffrey
N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Cleaner Production. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Cleaner Production, 183, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.095
PY - 2018/5/10
Y1 - 2018/5/10
N2 - Carpets are composite materials and, like many composite materials, waste carpet is both difficult and expensive to recycle because of the complicated, multi-stage processes involved. Consequently, in the United Kingdom, approximately 400,000 tonnes of carpet waste are sent to landfill annually. However, the landfill option is becoming uneconomic due to increasing landfill charges, the reduction in landfill sites and changes in environmental legislation. This dual economic and environmental burden has led to research interest in the processing of waste carpets into useful feedstocks for use in manufacturing. This study describes the experimental characterisation of a novel structural composite material that has been fabricated from waste carpets, and which is intended for use in low grade structural applications such as agricultural fencing. Details of the manufacturing process for the composites are described, as are the results of tensile and three-point bending tests, and the observed failure modes post-testing. In addition, Finite Element (FE) analysis was used to simulate the structural behaviour of fencing posts and rails manufactured from the carpet-based composite, and these results are compared with commercially available timber and PVC equivalent designs. Finally, structural analysis and design optimisation of the composite fencing was undertaken and this is used to demonstrate that from a mechanical property standpoint, the novel waste carpet structural composite may offer potential as an alternative to the timber and PVC materials typically used in such applications. Therefore, this study has demonstrated a practical approach for recycling carpet waste, which could lead to a substantial reduction in the volume of carpet waste discarded to landfill and subsequently yield both economic and environmental benefits.
AB - Carpets are composite materials and, like many composite materials, waste carpet is both difficult and expensive to recycle because of the complicated, multi-stage processes involved. Consequently, in the United Kingdom, approximately 400,000 tonnes of carpet waste are sent to landfill annually. However, the landfill option is becoming uneconomic due to increasing landfill charges, the reduction in landfill sites and changes in environmental legislation. This dual economic and environmental burden has led to research interest in the processing of waste carpets into useful feedstocks for use in manufacturing. This study describes the experimental characterisation of a novel structural composite material that has been fabricated from waste carpets, and which is intended for use in low grade structural applications such as agricultural fencing. Details of the manufacturing process for the composites are described, as are the results of tensile and three-point bending tests, and the observed failure modes post-testing. In addition, Finite Element (FE) analysis was used to simulate the structural behaviour of fencing posts and rails manufactured from the carpet-based composite, and these results are compared with commercially available timber and PVC equivalent designs. Finally, structural analysis and design optimisation of the composite fencing was undertaken and this is used to demonstrate that from a mechanical property standpoint, the novel waste carpet structural composite may offer potential as an alternative to the timber and PVC materials typically used in such applications. Therefore, this study has demonstrated a practical approach for recycling carpet waste, which could lead to a substantial reduction in the volume of carpet waste discarded to landfill and subsequently yield both economic and environmental benefits.
KW - Carpet
KW - Fencing
KW - Waste
KW - Mechanical properties
KW - FE modelling
KW - Composite
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.095
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.095
M3 - Journal article
VL - 183
SP - 686
EP - 697
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
SN - 0959-6526
ER -