Performance Evaluation of Modified Rubberized Concrete Exposed to Aggressive Environments

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Sustainable Construction

Background:

• Growing global interest in recycling waste rubber tire crumbs (WRTCs) for concrete production.
• Need for enhanced concrete durability against aggressive environments for sustainability and cost-efficiency.
• Emerging trend of using waste materials as substitutes for natural aggregates in construction.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the performance of modified rubberized concrete exposed to acid, sulphate, and elevated temperatures.
• Assess the impact of replacing natural aggregates with WRTCs on concrete properties.
• Develop an optimized artificial neural network (ANN) model for predicting residual compressive strength.

Main Methods:

• Prepared 12 batches of concrete, replacing cement with granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) and natural aggregates with WRTCs.
• Exposed concrete specimens to aggressive environments (acid, sulphate, elevated temperatures).
• Evaluated performance through residual compressive strength (CS), weight loss, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and microstructural analysis.
• Developed an ANN-PSO model to estimate residual CS after one year of immersion in MgSO4 and H2SO4 solutions.

Main Results:

• Modified rubberized concrete with 5-20% WRTCs exhibited lower CS and weight loss when exposed to sulphate and acid attacks compared to control specimens.
• Slight decline in CS observed at elevated temperatures.
• ANN-PSO model successfully estimated residual CS of modified rubberized concrete.

Conclusions:

• Modified rubberized concrete demonstrates potential for use in concrete structures, particularly in environments with acid and sulphate risks.
• The use of WRTCs as a partial replacement for natural aggregates offers a sustainable approach to concrete production.
• Further research can explore optimizing mix designs for enhanced performance in various aggressive conditions.