Experimental Study on Effect of Silica Fume on Properties of Crumb Rubber Concrete

Concrete is a widely used construction material for various types of structures due to its structural stability and strength. Basically it consists of aggregates which are bonded together by cement and water. Use of these conventional materials in concrete causes depletion of resources unless there is a suitable substitute. Rubber which is generated in large quantities as waste does not have useful disposal till now. Hence in this study crumb rubber is used as a partial substitute for fine aggregate. The main parameter investigated in this study is M30 grade concrete as per IS 10262-2009 with partial replacement of fine aggregate by crumb rubber by 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and by 20 %. In this mix, by replacing fine aggregate by 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % crumb rubber optimum percentage of crumb rubber is find out. Then silica fume is added at 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % at the optimum % of crumb rubber. The silica fume is used to regain the reduced strength of concrete due to the use of waste tyre crumb rubber particle. This paper presents a detailed experimental study on compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength at age of 7 and28 days. The mechanical and durabilty properties are determined and are compared with the corresponding values of the conventional concrete. The present investigation has been aimed at to bring awareness amongst the practicing civil engineers regarding advantages of these new concrete mixes.