Evaluation of mechanical and durability properties of crumb rubber concrete

Abstract

Due to rapid growth of automobile sector, disposal of waste rubber is becoming a major issue. In this study, effort has been made to reduce this problem by utilizing waste rubber in the form of crumb rubber in Portland pozzolana cement concrete as a substitute of fine aggregates in varied percentages. Experimental work has been conducted to evaluate compressive strength, flexural strength, density and durability properties like water absorption and abrasion resistance for the different proportions (0%, 4%, 4.5%, 5% and 5.5%) of crumb rubber in concrete. Micro-structural study using XRD, SEM and optical microscopy have also been carried out in the present study. It has been observed that with an increment of crumb rubber, workability of concrete decreases. The output of compressive and flexural strength show slight decrease with 4% replacement of fine aggregates by crumb rubber. Water absorption and abrasion resistance were also marginally affected at the same substitution level of crumb rubber in concrete. Hence, it can be concluded that 4% of fine aggregates can be replaced by crumb rubber to manufacture concrete for non-structural elements.