Effects of Tire Wastes on the Mechanical Properties of Concrete

The use of wastes in building materials is an interesting and necessary domain of research. In concrete different types of wastes can be used as aggregates, as replacement of cement or as filler. The paper presents the results of experimental researches made on eco-concretes that included scrap or powder of waste tires. Several variables were investigated including two types of concrete with cement or with polymer, prepared with different dosage of tire wastes: in the case of cement concrete, the tire scrap was added in dosages of 25%, 30%, 40% and 50%. In the case of polymer concrete the tire powder was added in dosages of 6.4%, 12.4%, 17%, 20% and 23%. The compressive strength on cubes, the tensile strength by bending and the split tensile strength were determined. The tire waste addition decreased the values of mechanical strengths. In the case of cement concrete the best results were obtained for the concrete with admixture and a content of scrap tires of 25%. In the case of polymer concrete the mix with 23% epoxy resin and 17% tires powder had shown the best results for compressive strength. In the case of tensile strengths the mixes with a reduced dosage of epoxy resin and tire powder had shown higher values.