POLYVINYL ALCOHOL (PVA) FIBER-REINFORCED RUBBER CONCRETE AND RUBBERIZED SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE

This study experimentally investigates the mechanical performance and durability of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) fiber-reinforced rubber concrete and the rubberized self-compacting concrete. The waste rubber particles were introduced as a partial replacement of fine aggregate in the plain concrete. In addition, the waste tire rubbers were pre-treated with alkali surface treatment method to enhance the performance. The PVA fibers were added to the concrete mixes to enhance the post-failure resistance and thus fracture energy. Rubberized fiber concrete samples were prepared with different fine aggregate replacement ratios and the optimum fiber content. At the same time, the rubber particles had been used to partially replace the fine aggregate in normal self-compacting concrete (SCC). The rubberized self-compacting concrete (RSCC) had also been prepared with different rubber contents. The effects of NaOH treatment method had been evaluated in the self-compacting concrete. For these samples, the mechanical performance including compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, and flexural behavior was measured to compare with control samples. The transport property was also detected by electrical resistivity test. The durability performance such as alkali-silica reaction (ASR) expansion and drying shrinkage were evaluated and compared with control samples. The test results of the PVA-fiber reinforced rubber concrete showed that it could achieve a high fracture energy and maintain xvi a high mechanical performance after addition of recycled rubber and PVA-fiber, furthermore, the modified specimens showed a better performance in durability than control samples. At the same time, the results from rubberized self-compacting concrete (RSCC) also indicated that after using of NaOH surface treated rubbers can successfully achieve high-strength requirement and improve durability performance. Overall, the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber could be considered to improve the mechanical performance and durability in normal rubberized concrete. In addition, the NaOH surface treatment method for rubber particles could improve the performance of rubberized self-compacting concrete (RSCC), thus achieve a high-strength and good durability with the recycled tire aggregate.