Durability of self-compacting rubberized concrete exposed to external sulphate attack

Abstract

This study evaluated the performance of self-compacting rubberized concrete against external sulphate attack (ESA). cylinders 100 mm in diameter and 220 mm in length of control concrete (no rubber) and rubberized concrete were prepared and tested by visual inspection to identify visible degradation, length and mass variations of specimens, compressive strength, water-accessible porosity, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and thermal decomposition obtained from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results show that the incorporation of up to 15% rubber enhances the performance against ESA. Rubber reduced the expansion strains and compressive strength. All immersed specimens did not have visible cracks around them. Water porosity was found to increase or decrease versus the time of sulphate immersion. As a result, the impact of rubber on porosity variation is significantly less than the effect of the sulphate-hydrate reaction. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a decrease in portlandite, which is not related to rubber incorporation.