The influence of saltwater-curing on the engineering properties of rubberized concrete

Shu-Ken Lin , Chung-Hao Wu , Yuan-Shun Yang

Abstract

This study used waste crumb rubber instead of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) to prepare concrete for investigating the influence of saltwater-curing on its compressive and splitting tensile strengths, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and microstructure. Test results show that using rubber particles to replace NCAs may reduce the strength of concrete. The compressive strength of air-curing rubberized concrete (RC) is about 10% of that of NCA concrete. The compressive strength of RC cured with saltwater is slightly higher than that of air-curing RC. The compressive strength of RC incorporating blast furnace slag (replacing the 60% weight of cement) after saltwater-curing can be higher than that of merely cement concrete while still lower than that of air-curing concrete. Saltwater-curing, low water-binder ratio, and blast furnace slag may increase the density of RC and enhance its ultrasonic pulse velocity. EDS analysis can detect the Na element, meaning chloride (sodium chloride) exists inside saltwater-curing RC. No Ca element is found inside the rubber aggregate, meaning that the cement hydrates cannot enter its internal pores.

Key Words

coarse aggregate; mechanical properties; microstructure; saltwater-curing; ultrasonic pulse velocity; waste tire rubber

Address

Shu-Ken Lin — Department of Civil Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
Chung-Hao Wu — Department of Civil Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
Yuan-Shun Yang — Department of Civil Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan

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