The effect of adding rubber crumbs on the cyclic permanent deformation of waste mixtures containing coal wash and steel furnace slag

Among the numerous studies into the dynamic loading behaviour of rubber crumbs-soil/waste mixtures, the main focus is on how the content of rubber crumbs (R-b%) affects the damping ratio, shear modulus and total deformation. However, research into the influence of R-b% on the permanent strain rate ((epsilon))over dot(p) and the deformation mechanism under repeated loading is very limited. In the current study, the cyclic deformation response for waste mixtures of steel furnace slag (SFS), coal wash (CW) and rubber crumbs (RC) is analysed and the test results reveal that R-b% has a significant influence on the initial (epsilon)over dot(p) and the slope of the permanent axial strain rate line, whereas cyclic deviator stress (qcyc,max) mainly affects the initial (epsilon)over dot(p). The influence of R-b% and q(cyc,max) on the (epsilon)over dot(p) value of the waste mixture is incorporated in an empirical model, which enables prediction of the permanent deformation mechanism of SFS + CW + RC mixtures with wider-ranging amounts of RC and higher cyclic deviator stresses.

Automated summary

Many studies have focused on the effect of rubber crumbs content on damping ratio, shear modulus, and total deformation in rubber crumbs-soil/waste mixtures; however, research on the influence of rubber crumbs content on the permanent strain rate and deformation mechanism under repeated loading is limited. This study analyzes the cyclic deformation response of mixtures containing steel furnace slag, coal wash, and rubber crumbs and finds that rubber crumbs content significantly affects the initial permanent strain rate and the slope of the permanent axial strain rate line, while cyclic deviator stress mainly affects the initial permanent strain rate. An empirical model is developed to predict the permanent deformation mechanism of the mixtures with varying amounts of rubber crumbs and higher cyclic deviator stresses.