Strength Performance of Oven Cured Rubberized Geopolymer Concrete

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) exhibits similar brittleness and low tensile strength, fracture toughness and ductility. To address these limitations, crumb rubber is proposed as an additive to enhance the tensile strength of GPC, resulting in a composite known as Rubberized Geopolymer Concrete (RuGPC). To further optimize the impact of rubber, an oven curing method is introduced to improve the bonding between the materials in the RuGPC composite. This research investigates the effect of different percentages of crumb rubber on the strength performance of RuGPC after oven curing. Specimens containing varying percentages of crumb rubber (5%, 10%, and 15% by weight of fine aggregates) were prepared and subjected to compression and indirect tensile test. The results showed the addition of crumb rubber to GPC reduces compressive strength, but it improves the tensile strength of RuGPC. In conclusion, oven curing has enhanced the tensile strength performance of the RuGPC, offering new possibilities for producing sustainable concrete alternatives.