Mechanical properties of rubberised concrete for road side barriers

This paper presents the mechanical properties of rubberized concrete for roadside barriers with the intent to reduce injuries and fatalities during crashes. The test programme involved the preparation of normal strength concretes made out of recycled waste tire rubber. The tire-rubber particles composed of a combination of crumb rubber and fine rubber powder were used to replace 10, 20, 30 and 40% of the total weight of the fine aggregate. The test results indicated considerable reductions in compressive and flexural strengths, and tangential modulus of elasticity. New design guidelines in accordance with the Australian Bridge Design Code AS 5100 for strength and serviceability of rubberized concrete roadside barriers were derived based on the test results. New moment-thrust interaction curves and shear strength equations were derived for the rubberized concrete. It was found that the shear strength is critical compared to the combined moment and axial thrust and the maximum rubber content was 17% max for rubberized concrete.