Experimental Investigation on the Dynamic Flexural Performance of High-Strength Rubber Concrete

Traditional concrete suffers from high energy consumption during production and low flexural strength, making it prone to flexural failure under impact loading. To address these issues, an eco-friendly non-autoclaved rubber concrete (NARC) was developed. The dynamic flexural performance of NARC was systematically investigated using a 100 mm diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus, with variations in rubber content (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). The results demonstrate an inverse correlation between dynamic flexural strength and rubber content. A replacement level exceeding 10% resulted in strengths inadequate for practical applications. At a 5% rubber content, the strain rate sensitivity was the most pronounced, where both dynamic strength and mid-span displacement exhibited a significant positive correlation with increasing strain rate. This enhanced performance is attributed to the high strength and dense microstructure of NARC, which facilitates more effective aggregate fracture under high-energy, short-duration impacts, thereby improving its dynamic load resistance. These findings provide valuable insights for promoting the practical and environmentally friendly production of rubber concrete.