The Properties of Waste Rubber Tires in Increasing the Damping of Masonry Wall Structure

Abstract

The accumulation of waste rubber tires causes environmental problems, due to most of them cannot be recycled into new tires. Recently, this waste is gradually used as a material replacement in civil engineering such as in increasing damping properties. This study investigates the physical and mechanical properties of waste rubber tires including density (ρ), ultimate tensile strength (σ), elongation at break, hardness (Shore A), modulus of elasticity (E), and shear modulus (G). The specimens used were coded as A, B, C, and D to represent specified brand name. The testing method referred to ISO standards and was carried out in the laboratory of Center for Leather, Rubber, and Plastics (CLRP), and the structural laboratory of Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The result shows that the density of all brands is nearly the same which is around 1.1 gr/cm3. The A rubber tire is indicated as the best damping properties since it has the lowest value on tensile strength, hardness, modulus of elasticity and shear modulus. However, the elongation at break is the highest value, compared to the other specimens. B rubber tire shows hard rubber, while C and D are high strength rubber. Therefore, B, C, and D rubber tires are appropriate to be used as barrier supports which must be able to withstand large forces, while the damping is not a priority.