Effects of Rubber Particle Size and Substitution Rate on the Behavior of Eco-Friendly Rubberized Concrete
Received: 27 October 2024 | Revised: 16 November 2024 | Accepted: 16 November 2024 | Online: 2 February 2025
Corresponding author: Jacqueline Saliba
Abstract
One of the world's largest tire graveyards is located in the Al-Salmi area of Kuwait, where over 42 million discarded waste rubber tires have been accumulated over a time period of 17 years. This study aims to develop sustainable, cost-effective building materials for the construction industry, utilizing waste rubber as a partial substitute for fine and coarse aggregates in concrete mixtures. Three types of untreated rubber particles were used: powder rubber (P) with a diameter between 0.4 and 0.6 mm, crumb rubber (CR) with a diameter between 0.6 and 2 mm, and 2.6 and 3.5 mm respectively, and rubber chips (CH) with a diameter ranging between 2 and 18 mm. Fine aggregates were replaced by P and CR, while coarse aggregates were replaced by CH, at a substitution rate of 10 and 20% by volume. The impact of rubber particles on workability was assessed on fresh rubberized concrete, while the compressive strength was evaluated at 7, 14, and 28 days. Microstructural analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was also conducted to collate the macroscopic behavior with internal structural changes. The results showed that increasing the rubber content and particle size led to reductions in workability and compressive strength. Large rubber particles, particularly chips, caused gaps and microcracks in the matrix, exhibiting poor adhesion at the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ). These findings demonstrate the potential of rubberized concrete as an eco-friendly alternative, with optimization needed for practical applications.
Keywords:
rubber, concrete, workability, compressive strength, microstructureDownloads
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Copyright (c) 2024 Sayed Najeeb AlMousawi, Hussain Alsalameen, Jasem Khalaf, Omar Abdelsamie, Abdulrahman Bohaimd, Jacqueline Saliba
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