Shrinkage performance of Crumb Rubber Concrete (CRC) prepared by water-soaking treatment method for rigid pavements

• Crumb Rubber Concrete (CRC) was evaluated based on the Australian Standards.
• Fresh and hardened characteristics of rubberised-concrete were investigated.
• Fracture properties of rubberised-concrete were investigated.
• Plastic and drying shrinkage properties of rubberised-concrete were investigated.
• Introduction of optimised rubber content improved resistance against cracking.

This investigation deals with the shrinkage properties of rubberised concrete pavement. Arrays of concrete samples were prepared with different water–cement ratios and rubber content. The experimental results revealed that the introduction of rubber into concrete mixes results in the control of shrinkage cracks if the optimised content of rubber is selected. Accordingly, the optimised rubber content was determined based on the mix characteristics, mechanical properties and the results of plastic and drying shrinkage tests. The mechanical strength, toughness, bleeding, plastic shrinkage and drying shrinkage tests were conducted in this experimental program. Analysing the results revealed that the most promising performance results were achieved for samples prepared with the rubber contents of 20% and 25% of fine aggregates, and water–cement ratios of 0.45 and 0.40, respectively.