Analyzing the behavior of graphene oxide on high-strength rubberized concrete properties using different optimization techniques

Abstract

Applying rubber aggregates (RA) obtained from used rubber tires in concrete is an innovative method to substitute natural aggregate (NA) to perform sustainable construction practices. RA in concrete is not only helpful to remove the burden of used rubber tire heaps from the earth but may also give a better alternative to the fast-depleting NA. Graphene oxide (GO) was mixed in the RC to modify the physical and mechanical properties of rubberized concrete (RC). An experimental study was performed on the sixteen different concrete samples of GO-mixed RC with the help of workability, density, air content, compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength tests. The research findings indicated that GO had a beneficial impact by enhancing the density, compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength by counteracting the detrimental effects caused by RA on concrete. Increments up to 0.72 %, 16.23 %, 8.82 %, and 6.48 %, respectively, were reported in the density, compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength of RC after the inclusion of GO. However, the incorporation of GO tended to reduce workability (up to 13.04 %) and air content (by 1.5 %) in the RC. Different optimization techniques like response surface methodology (RSM), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and heatmap correlation were applied to the experimental results. Coefficients of determination were higher than 92 % for each GO-mixed RC property, indicating a higher goodness of fit for the experimental results.