Environmental Friendly Applications of Ground Tire Rubber (GTR) In Producing Concrete

Over 280 million waste tires are generated in the United States on an annual basis. A majority of 3.3 million waste tires generated in Arkansas are either dumped in the landfill or burnt for generating energy; neither of them is a sustainable approach. Handling and disposal of these waste tires is a huge challenge for solid waste management departments of agencies such as the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). However, these waste tires can be recycled and utilized as new construction materials to produce durable concrete as the rubber possess favorable engineering properties. The main objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of the use of GTR in preparing durable paving concrete. Specifically, the current study has the following objectives: (a) collect appropriate GTR samples for paving concrete, (b) evaluate fresh and engineering properties of GTR-modified concrete, (c) evaluate the long-term durability properties of GTR-modified concrete, (d) determine the optimum dosage of GTR based on fresh, mechanical, and durability properties tests results, and (e) develop guidelines in implementing GTR-modified concrete. The aforementioned goals of this project will be accomplished through a comprehensive review of available literature and extensive laboratory testing of selected GTR-modified concrete samples. The following two different sizes of GTR will be studied: (i) Mesh #40 as a replacement of sand; and (ii) Mesh #200 as a replacement of the supplemental cementitious material (SCM). Another variation will be a combination of replacements of both sand and SCM with their optimum dosages. To this end, properties (e.g., workability, air content, and Super Air Member No.) of fresh concrete and strength properties (compressive, tensile, flexural, and elastic modulus) of hardened concrete will be evaluated in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards. Durability properties such as alkali-silica reactivity, drying shrinkage, sulfate resistance, and scaling resistance of hardened concrete will also be evaluated per the ASTM methods. Laboratory findings will be implemented in the field through the construction of a small test section (walking trail or sidewalk), and the in-place quality of in-place concrete will be evaluated. Industry partners will provide necessary technical assistance throughout the project. In particular, their assistance in the field demonstration project will be highly beneficial. The test section will also serve as a good learning experience for student researchers as they will work alongside the professional crews during concrete pouring and finishing work. The technical merit of this project is that this study will assess the feasibility of GTR as a replacement of sand, fly ash, and/or a combination of replacements of sand and fly ash for paving concrete. Such knowledge and techniques do not exist in the public domain today. The current study aims to reduce this knowledge gap. Findings of the proposed study will be disseminated to professionals and communities through technical papers, presentations, and/or radio podcasts at journals, conferences, symposia, etc. Experimental data gathered from this study are expected to help agencies, contractors, and suppliers in the region to produce durable concrete with GTR. The guidelines developed from the proposed study are expected to be implemented by the state, industry partners, and ready-mix concrete producers in the region. The proposed study will facilitate in meeting multiple objectives of Tran-SET, and they are: (i) promote sustainability and resiliency of the transportation infrastructure renewal and upgrade; (ii) introduce and implement cost-effective solutions to the transportation infrastructure backlog of projects; (iii) develop cost-effective solutions for the construction and maintenance of the transportation infrastructure in metropolitan and rural areas; and (iv) promote workforce development through learning and continuous education.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 22CASU01

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $120106
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)

  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Project Managers:

  Mousa, Momen

• Performing Organizations:

  Arkansas State University

  Department of Engineering
  P.O. Box 1740
  State University, AR  United States  72467
• Principal Investigators:

  Hossain, Zahid

• Start Date: 20220401
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cement; Concrete; Crumb rubber; Durability; Strength of materials; Sustainable development; Waste products (Materials)
• Identifier Terms: Arkansas Department of Transportation
• Geographic Terms: Arkansas
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Environment; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01844779
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747106
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: May 6 2022 12:26PM