Behavior of hybrid concrete beams with waste rubber

Abstract

The studies on the applications of waste materials in concrete have been increased in Iraq since 2003. In this research, rubber wastes that resulting from scrapped tires was added to concrete mix with presence of superplasticizer. The mechanical properties of concrete and workability of concrete mixes were studied. The used rubber were ranging in size from (2-4) mm with addition percentages of (0.1% and 0.2%) by volume of concrete. The results of mechanical properties of concrete show that rubber enhance the ductility, and compressive and tensile strength compared to concrete without it. Also, the flexural behavior of hybrid strength concrete beams (due to using rubber at the bottom or top layer of section) was investigated. The rubber concrete located at bottom layer gives higher values of ultimate loads and deflections compared to the beam with top layer. A similar response to fiber concrete beam (all section contains 0.1% rubber) was recognized. Finite element modeling in three dimensions was carried for the tested beams using ABAQUS software. The ultimate loads and deflection obtained from experimental and finite elements are in good agreements with average difference of 8% in ultimate load and 20% in ultimate deflection.