Work

Effect of rubber particles on compressive strength and deformation properties of concrete: Experimental investigation and DEM simulations

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Incorporating rubber particles and fibers into concrete used for gob-side backfill bodies can enhance its deformability, thereby achieving the objectives of yieldable support. polypropylene and steel fibres are added to normal concrete (NC) in 0.5% and 1% proportions by volume, respectively, and 10-mesh and 20-mesh rubber particles are used to replace fine aggregates in different proportions to produce hybrid fibre–reinforced rubber concrete (HFRC). Based on experimental results, a fine-view model containing linear cluster particle fibres was constructed using Discrete Element Method (DEM), elucidating and quantifying the crack propagation mechanisms and energy evolution patterns of HFRC. The results indicate that increasing rubber content leads to gradual reductions in compressive strength, elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio, whereas the peak longitudinal strain first increases and then decreases. HFRC incorporating 10-mesh rubber particles exhibits superior mechanical performance compared with 20-mesh rubber, with an optimal replacement ratio of approximately 30%. When the rubber content reaches 40%, pronounced mechanical deterioration occurs for both particle sizes. DEM analyses reveal that the matrix integrity of 10-mesh rubber HFRC is better maintained during the elastic stage, but degrades more rapidly after peak stress due to accelerated force-chain attenuation. At peak strength, the input energy of HFRC is approximately 4.7–4.9 times that of normal concrete, while the dissipated energy is 2.2–2.3 times, demonstrating significantly enhanced energy absorption capacity. These findings provide practical guidance for the design and application of deformable concrete materials in flexible support engineering.

Source: Case Studies in Construction Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2026.e05935