Strength and durability performance of sustainable rubberized concrete with tyre powder and tyre chips as partial aggregate substitutes

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable construction materials and effective waste management has encouraged the utilization of industrial and solid wastes in concrete production. Waste tire rubber, generated in large quantities worldwide, poses serious environmental challenges due to its non-biodegradable nature. This study investigates the strength and durability performance of sustainable rubberized concrete by partially replacing natural fine and coarse aggregates with tire powder and tire chips. Several concrete mixes were prepared with varying replacement ratios, and their mechanical properties were evaluated through compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength tests at different curing ages. In addition, durability characteristics such as water absorption, permeability, and resistance to aggressive environmental conditions were examined. The experimental results indicate that increasing the rubber content leads to a reduction in mechanical strength compared to conventional concrete; however, rubberized concrete exhibits improved ductility, energy absorption capacity, and crack resistance. Within an optimum replacement range, the durability performance of rubberized concrete remains satisfactory. The findings demonstrate that the incorporation of tire powder and tire chips in concrete contributes to sustainable waste management while producing an environmentally friendly construction material suitable for non-structural and selected structural applications.