Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites represent an alternative construction
material without many of the performance disadvantages of traditional materials. The use of FRP
as a pile material can eliminate deterioration problems of conventional piling materials in water
front environments and aggressive soils. This paper presents the results of one-year
experimental study conducted to assess the durability of piling made of recycled plastics in
aggressive soils for long term usage in civil infrastructure applications. An accelerated testing
protocol permitting prediction of the behavior of plastic piles was developed. Specimens were
exposed to solutions with fixed acidic, basic & neutral pH at elevated temperatures.
Compressive strength was used as an index to quantify the degradation of the specimens. An
Arrhenius model was used to predict the service life of the product. An estimated 25% loss in
resistance at 10% strain, is projected to take 21 years for coupon specimens incubated at pH = 2
and 25 years for coupon specimens incubated at pH = 12.