Compressive and flexural characteristics of geopolymer rubberized concrete reinforced with recycled tires steel fibers

The manufacturing of ordinary Portland cement concrete generates a large amount of carbon dioxide and causes air pollution. In recent years, geopolymer concrete has emerged as a sustainable alternative con-struction material with superior properties to conventional concrete, such as higher compressive strength, better acid and fire resistance, and lower creep and shrinkage. Similarly, incorporating waste tire materials such as rubber and steel fibers into concrete has shown the potential to enhance its flex-ibility and ductility. These improvements are desirable in some applications, such as slabs on grade and pavements, as they will reduce the environmental pollution caused by the landfilling of waste tires. This paper presents an investigation of the compressive and flexural behaviors of geopolymer concrete made with and without rubber and/or steel fibers. A blend of metakaolin and fly ash is employed as the binder material for the geopolymer concrete mixtures. Waste tire rubber (WTR) is substituted for 20% of the volume of conventional aggregates. In addition, a blend of industrial steel fibers (ISF) and waste tire steel fibers (WTSF) is used as internal reinforcement. In this study, it has been demonstrated that the synergy between WTR and steel fibers in geopolymer concrete can be used as the basis for a semi-flexible geopolymer concrete composite with adequate strength and improved ductility. It also has post-peak behavior, making it an ideal alternative construction material for industrial floors and pavement.Copyright (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer-ence on Advances in Construction Materials and Structures.

Automated summary

The manufacturing of ordinary Portland cement concrete generates carbon dioxide and causes air pollution. Geopolymer concrete and the incorporation of waste tire materials into concrete have shown potential as sustainable alternatives with improved properties. This paper investigates the compressive and flexural behaviors of geopolymer concrete made with and without rubber and/or steel fibers, demonstrating the synergy between these materials and their use as a semi-flexible composite with adequate strength and improved ductility. This makes it an ideal alternative material for industrial floors and pavement.