Progressive collapse of reinforced rubberised concrete: Experimental study: Fid-Bau Portal

Progressive collapse of reinforced rubberised concrete: Experimental study

Alshaikh, Ibrahim M.H. / Abu Bakar, B.H. / Alwesabi, Emad A.H. / Akil, Hazizan Md

Highlights • This study experimentally investigated the progressive collapse of reinforced rubberised concrete frames. • A mitigation scheme is proposed for resisting progressive collapse by using rubberised concrete. • Adding crumb rubber increased the structural ductility by well over 50%.

Abstract This paper discusses on the efficiency of partial replacements of fine aggregate (sand) by waste crumb rubber for improving the deformability and structural ductility of the reinforced concrete (RC) frame and thus resisting progressive collapse. This research experimentally tested the behaviour of four RC frames at one-third-scale under the middle column removal scenario. For comparison, two frames were prepared for 0% crumb rubber as the controlled specimens. The remaining frames were prepared for 20% crumb rubber replacements by volume for sand. The mechanical properties, failure mode, the crack pattern, the load-displacement behaviour, and structural ductility are analysing herein for normal and RuC frames. Results indicated that there was enhanced in structural ductility induced by the addition of crumb rubber in conventional concrete. Meanwhile, the RuC frames showed more deflection than the NC frames. Therefore, RuC is an eco-friendly building material that can be used for enhancing the ductility of RC elements as a new design strategy for preventing progressive collapse.