The Effect of Rubber Addition on The Mechanical Performance of Engineering Composite Concrete (ECC)

Abstract

This paper presents the effect of adding recycled crumbly rubber to engineering composite concrete (ECC) on the main mechanical properties. 12 specimens were prepared with variants that included different proportions of PVA fibers, micro steel fibers, and crumb rubber. The results showed that mixtures containing rubber recorded a decrease in the modulus of elasticity, where the value of the mixture M4 (0.5% PVA & 3% CR) reached 19.85 GPa, while the hybrid mixture M12 (0.5% PVA & 0.25% MS + 3% CR) decreased to 11.09 GPa. In contrast, the M9 mix (0.5% PVA & 0.25% MS) achieved the highest compressive strength of 60.64 MPa, highlighting the synergy between fibers in enhancing rigidity. The results also showed that the addition of rubber improved flexural strength and energy absorption, with the M12 mixture recording a flexural strength of 13.48 MPa. These results confirm that rubber enhances flexural and deformability but reduces rigidity, while hybrid mixtures achieve a balance between strength and elasticity. In addition, the use of rubber contributes to environmental sustainability by recycling waste tires and turning them into a construction material with acceptable performance.