Compressive Behaviour of Tyre Fibre in Light Weight Concrete using Higher Grade of Cement

Abstract

As the population of Nigerians increases, the number of cars and used tyres also increases. Used and expired tyres are non-biodegradable and poses serious threat to human health and the environment. This paper examined the effect of partial replacement of coarse aggregate by tyre fibre on the fresh and hardened concrete cubes. The shredded tyres aggregate used in concrete grade M15 at 0%, 5% and 10% replacement levels, cured for 7 days and 28 days. The finite element analysis software, ANSYS was used to model the compressive behaviour of the concrete. The experimental investigation showed that workability of the concrete is affected by the replacement of coarse aggregate with tyre fibre. As the percentage of tyre fibre increases from 0% to 10%, the compressive strength declines. The 28 days’ compressive strength values at 5% and 10% tyre fibre replacement are 20.7 N/mm2 and 17.7 N/mm2 respectively. The average equivalent elastic strain value, average equivalent stress, strain energy and the total deformation in the concrete increases as the percentage of tyre fibre increases. In conclusion, less than 10% tyre fibre could be used as partial replacement to coarse aggregates especially in non-structural concrete, such as fill or light weight concrete.