The Experimental Investigation of the Repeated-Loading Behaviour of the Sand-Rubber-Mixture (SRM)

Abstract

Nowadays the waste rubber problems are concerned due to the environmental issues, storage, and recycling difficulty. However, the rubber base equipment has been widely used to protect structures for vibrations - that has been generated by the structure or induced from the vicinity area or the bedrock into the structure - due to the notable capability of absorbing energy. In this study, the repeated-loading behaviour of the Sand Rubber Mixture (SRM) has been investigated and the remarkable energy absorption properties of the mixture have been illustrated. The test soil material that has been used in this study was a well-graded sand (SW) with a mean grain size of 2 mm. The test martial rubber that has been used was grain particles with a uniform size of 4.76 mm. The sand rubber mixture (SRM) was prepared by using 7.5% rubber inclusion because it was found as the optimum rubber content. A series of force control repeated-loading CBR tests have been arranged. The effect of mixing rubber particles with the well-graded sand (SW test material) has been investigated. This shows the remarkable energy absorption capability of Sand Rubber Mixture (SRM) to protect the bed of a machine’s footing that is generating repeated loads. The SRM usage could be extended to be employed as a part of an energy absorption unit and dampers facilities beneath a machine footing or structures that are sensitive to the vibration to prevent destructive deformation and resonance phenomenon.