Experimental and numerical investigation of concrete properties and crack propagation in concrete incorporating different sizes of recycled tire rubber particles

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-14-2025

Abstract

The increasing volume of waste tire rubber poses serious environmental challenges, motivating its use in concrete for sustainable construction. This study examines the effects of recycled rubber particle size and content on the mechanical and durability performance of concrete, using coarse and fine rubber as partial fine aggregate replacements. Experimental evaluations included compressive and tensile strength, flexural behavior, ultrasonic pulse velocity, drying shrinkage, and freeze-thaw resistance. Microscopy and Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations were conducted to investigate internal fracture behavior. Results show that rubber incorporation reduces mechanical strength due to low stiffness and weak interfacial bonding. However, concrete modified with fine rubber exhibited better strength retention, improved stress distribution, and enhanced microstructural integrity, attributed to improved packing density, reduced porosity, and more uniform shrinkage behavior. Freeze-thaw tests demonstrated greater resistance to expansion and superior durability. Microscopy observations and DEM simulations further revealed a more stable load transfer network and lower stress concentrations in fine rubber mixtures locally by comparing to coarse rubber counterparts. These findings suggest that fine recycled rubber improves fracture toughness and durability, supporting its potential as a sustainable alternative material for concrete infrastructure.

Publication Title

Construction and Building Materials

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