Effect of Waste Crumb Rubber Tyre as a Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregates on Fresh and Mechanical Properties of Concrete

There is a rising threat caused by the growing abundance of Waste Tyre Rubber (WTR). The non-putrescible nature, and long time to disintegrate, of Waste Tyre Rubber (WTR), is a global health risk. The top places to find this bedevilment is Europe and North America. The time to tackle this menace is long overdue. In a decade from now, the amount of waste tyres in the environment might verily outnumber the human populations. In previous researches, WTR has been used as coarse aggregates, and combined replacement of coarse and fine aggregates in ratio about 1:3. This study applied it as fine aggregates in 0-40% replacement by weight at 10% intervals, five mixes in all, including control concrete. First-instance replacement, 10-CR was the best CRC mix. It had about 20% reduction in slump; 30% for strength by compression, tension, and flexure; split-tensile strength after degradation at 200°C, and no visible surface or internal cracks subsequently after degradation, at 28-days. When tested for Rate of Water Absorption, VPV was less than 10%, and it also achieved an excellent 4.63 Km/sec on ultrasonic pulse velocity reading. Overall, 10-CR had least reduction in workability, strength, and durability. Despite this reductions, 10-CR was within admissible bounds of structural expectations.