Compressive and flexural behaviours of a new steel-fibre-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete with crumb rubber

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 79; pp. 263 - 272
• Main Authors: Xie, Jian-he, Guo, Yong-chang, Liu, Li-sha, Xie, Zhi-hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.03.2015; Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Aggregates (Building materials); Analysis; Compression; Concrete; Crumb rubber; Flexure; Mechanical properties; Properties; Recycled coarse aggregate (RCA); Rubber; Steel fibre; China; Recycled coarse aggregate (RCA); Flexure; Compression; Concrete; Steel fibre; Crumb rubber
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.01.036

•This study examines the compressive and flexural behaviour of a new material mixture, RSRAC.•RSRAC with an optimal rubber content displays good compressive behaviour.•RSRAC is a more environmentally friendly alternative to normal rubber concrete for use in the flexural member. Using recycled concrete and crumb rubber as aggregates to produce green concrete is a promising technology toward sustainability in the construction industry. In this study, the compressive and flexural behaviours of a new type of concrete material, rubber crumb and steel-fibre-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (RSRAC), are investigated. To popularise the application of this new type of green building material, an experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of the rubber content on the compressive and flexural behaviours of RSRAC. A total of 18 cubes (150mm) and 18 cylinders (150mm×200mm) were tested under axial compressive loading, and 18 prisms of 150×150×550mm were tested subjected to three-point bending. The crumb rubber content was varied in the investigation at levels of 0%, 4%, 8%, 12% and 16% by volume substitution of sand. Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) was introduced into the concrete mixture by 100% volume substitution of natural coarse aggregate (NCA), and 1% volumetric quantity of steel fibre was added to the concrete mixture. The effect of the rubber content on the compressive and flexural strength, failure mode, modulus of elasticity and toughness of RSRAC was analysed. The results indicate that RSRAC with an optimal rubber content displays good compressive behaviour compared with normal NCA concrete. RSRAC is also a more environmentally friendly alternative to normal rubber concrete for use in theflexural members of concrete structures.