A study of the durability properties of waste tire rubber applied to self-compacting concrete

This study used waste tire rubber as a recycled material and replaced part of the fine aggregate by waste tire rubber powder filtered through #30 and #50 sieves to produce self-compacting rubber concrete (SCRC). Part of the fine aggregate was replaced with waste tire rubber powder that had been passed through sieves at volume ratios of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively, to produce cylinder specimens and obtain the optimal replacement value. Replacing part of the normal sand with waste tire rubber powder of different degrees of fineness at different ratios is discussed. The results showed that when 5% waste tire rubber powder that had been passed through a #50 sieve was added, the 91 day compressive strength was higher than the control group by 10%. Additionally, the shrinkage was higher with an increase in the amount of waste rubber, and reached its maximum at 20%. The ultrasonic pulse velocity decreased when more powder was added, and the 56 day electrical resistance exceeded 20 k Omega-cm and was increased with the addition of more powder. Meanwhile, both the ultrasonic pulse velocity and the electrical resistance were in a favorable linear relationship with the compressive strength. The addition of 5% waste tire rubber powder brought about a significant increase in anti-sulfate corrosion. Using waste tire rubber powder can enhance the durability of self-compacting rubber concrete. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.