Finite element analysis and theoretical modeling of GFRP-reinforced concrete compressive components having waste tire rubber aggregates

The management of waste tire rubber has become a pressing environmental and health issue, requiring sustainable solutions to mitigate fire hazards and conserve natural resources. The performance of waste materials in structural components needs to be investigated to fabricate sustainable structures. This study aims to investigate the behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforced rubberized concrete (GRRC) compressive components under compressive loads. Nine GRRC circular compressive components, varying in longitudinal and transverse reinforcement ratios, were constructed. A 3D nonlinear finite element model (FEM) was proposed by means of the ABAQUS software to simulate the behavior of the GRRC compressive components. A comprehensive parametric analysis was conducted to assess the impact of different parameters on the performance of GRRC compressive components. The experimental findings demonstrated that reducing the spacing of GFRP stirrups enhanced the ductility of GRRC compressive components, while the addition of rubberized concrete further improved their ductility. Failure in GRRC compressive components occurred in a compressive columnar manner, characterized by vertical cracks and increased deformability. The finite element simulations closely matched the experimental results. The proposed empirical model, based on 600 test samples and considering the lateral confinement effect of FRP stirrups, demonstrated higher accuracy (R2=0.835, MSE = 171.296, MAE = 203.549, RMSE = 195.438) than previous models.