Taufiq Rochman, Eva Arifi, Evi Nur Cahya, Aris Wahyu Darmawan
This study investigates the flexural and mechanical performance of polymer mortar pipes (PMP), highlighting the potential of polyethylene (PE) rope radial reinforcement under patch loading. The research enhances mechanical properties and sustainability by incorporating fly ash into vinyl ester-based mortar. Nine mortar mixtures were evaluated, with RUN-6 proving most effective, achieving a compressive strength of 80.01 MPa and density of 1653.66 kg/m³. Flexural behavior of PMP was assessed via four-point bending tests on steel-reinforced (SRP) and PE rope-reinforced (PERP) pipes using the RUN-4 mixture. PERP demonstrated superior performance, with 25% higher maximum load capacity (10 kN vs. 8 kN for SRP), higher tensile stress (13.83 MPa vs. 13.52 MPa), compressive stress (10.07 MPa vs. 9.84 MPa), Young’s modulus (14,538 MPa vs. 5,038 MPa), and flexibility (experimental deflection 54.61 mm vs. 18.56 mm), making it ideal for applications requiring durability and adaptability despite ~ 10% higher costs (IDR 1,323 K vs. IDR 1,206 K for SRP). This work underscores PERP’s feasibility as a sustainable alternative to concrete and metal pipes in infrastructure. Future research should optimize costs to balance economic feasibility with high-performance properties, enabling broader adoption in sustainable construction. © The Author(s) 2025.
Professor of Civil Eng. Dept, State Polytechnic of Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta no. 9, Malang, 65141, Indonesia; Senior Lecturer of Civil Eng. Dept, Brawijaya University of Malang, Jl. MT. Haryono no. 167, Malang, 65141, Indonesia; Senior Lecturer of Water Resources Eng. Dept, Brawijaya University of Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta no. 167, Malang, 65141, Indonesia; Student, Civil Eng. Dept, State Polytechnic of Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta no. 9, Malang, 65141, Indonesia
