Discarded tyre rubber as concrete aggregate: A possible outlet for used tyres

Abstract

Discarded vehicle tyres constitute one important part of solid waste which had historically been disposed of into landfills. Recent EU policies on the Landfilling of Waste (Council Directive 1999/31/EC) have however put a ban on the landfilling of whole or shredded tyres, creating an imminent need to investigate any possible viable uses of this waste product. An emerging use is the production of concrete, in which tyre rubber particles partially replace natural aggregates. This has the additional advantage of saving in natural aggregates used in the production of concrete which are becoming increasingly scarce. This research investigated a wide range of physical and mechanical properties of concrete containing recycled tyre aggregates, to assess its suitability as a construction material. The influence of factors such as rubber aggregate content and size, as well as curing time was also considered. The results showed that despite a great loss in strength, this type of concrete was acceptable for various applications requiring medium to low compressive strength. The quantities of concrete produced worldwide for such applications could ensure the viability of this product. Therefore, this type of concrete shows promise for becoming an additional sustainable solution for tyre rubber waste management. © 2010 Global NEST.