Long-term mechanical and durable properties of waste tires rubber crumbs replaced GBFS modified concretes

Abstract

The disposal of rubbers from the waste tyres remains the main environmental concern worldwide unless recycled in an eco-friendly way. The incorporation of these wastes into the concretes as replacement agent for some of the natural aggregates is strategized as one of the possible solutions. Based on these factors, this study evaluates the effects of the tire rubber crumb wastes (TRCWs) at various contents (5, 10, 20 and 30% of volume) and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) as the fine and coarse aggregates replacement on the properties of newly designed concretes. Twelve batches of such concretes are prepared by blending the industrial wastes including the GBFS and TRCWs with ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The mechanical and durability performance of these modified concretes are analyzed using slump, compressive, tensile, flexural strength, and resistance to acid attack tests. The concrete modified with 20% of GBFS as OPC replacement shows enhanced mechanical traits wherein the compressive strength after the curing age of 28 days is higher (42.8 MPa) than the OPC control mix (33.8 MPa). Moreover, the mix designed with 5% of TRCWs as fine or/and coarse aggregates replacement is nearly 14.8% compared to the OPC specimens. The results show that the TRCWs substitution up to a limit of 10% of the river sand and gravel into the concrete can be effective without any strength loss. It is established that the use of TRCWs into concrete will not only be the cost-effective alternative but can be an environmental remedy and renewable resource for developing construction materials, leading to sustainability (minimization of the depletion of natural resources including river sand and gravel).