Mechanical performance of crumbed rubber concrete subjected to high temperature

To address environmental pollution caused by waste tires, civil engineers have attempted to utilize waste tires in the construction of building structures and infrastructures, thereby conserving natural structural materials. Because of the pyrolysis of rubber at high temperature, crumbed rubber concrete (CRC) used in high‐temperature conditions or fire resistance engineering has several limitations. This study used crumbed rubber (CR) particles to replace fine aggregate in equal volume and fulfilled steady‐state tests at high temperatures to investigate the failure modes and mechanical behavior of CRC subjected to high temperatures. The effects of rubber content (0%, 10%, and 20%) and particle size (0.106, 0.425, and 2 mm) on the elastic models, ultimate compressive strengths, and peak strain of CRC mechanical properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy analysis. The test results showed that at the same temperature, the mechanical properties reduced as the CR content increased. When suitable particle sizes of CR were employed, the reduction in the mechanical properties was slower compared to when CRC utilized smaller or larger particle sizes of CR. Because of the filling pores in CRC after CR decomposition at high temperatures, the compressive strength and elastic modulus of CRC fluctuated significantly.