A comprehensive review on the mechanical properties of waste tire rubber concrete

Abstract

Recycling of ‘End of Life Tyres’ (ELT) is one of the major environmental concerns faced by the scientific community and the government organisations, worldwide. Every year, an estimated one billion tyres reach their end of life, out of which only about 50% are currently being recycled and the remaining form part of the landfills. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve the existing and develop new applications of recycled tyre products to address this shortfall in the utilisation rate of the ELT. One application which is actively being researched is the use of waste tyre rubber as a partial replacement of conventional aggregates in concrete applications. Although it shows tremendous potential, it comes with its own challenges such as weak inherent strength of the rubber and poor bond performance with the cement matrix, which hinders its use as an aggregate in large quantities. To overcome this challenge, researchers have looked at various rubber treatment methods that not only improve the bond performance but also significantly improve the mechanical properties of rubber concrete. This review paper considers the effect of rubber particle size, percentage replacement and various treatment methods on different mechanical properties of rubber concrete, studied over the last 30 years. However, to be accepted by the concrete industry, the researchers have to come up with a rubber treatment method that can address the concerns of high flammability and the resultant release of noxious gases from the rubber particles, when exposed to fire.