Sustainable Waste Tire Rubber Granule Concrete: Preparation, Mechanical Performance and Field Application for Pressure Relief in High-Ground-Stress Soft Rock Roadways

Waste tire disposal and high-ground-stress soft rock roadway instability are pressing global challenges. This study develops sustainable rubber granule concrete (RGC) using waste tire rubber as a key component, aiming to realize waste valorization and floor heave control. RGC’s mechanical properties (uniaxial/triaxial compression, compressibility, ductility) were systematically tested, and its pressure relief mechanism was validated via finite element analysis (ABAQUS/FLAC) and 60-day field monitoring. Results show that RGC with optimal parameters (12% rubber content, 3–4 GPa elastic modulus, 250–350 mm thickness) achieves 64% bottom stress reduction and >40% displacement control. The material’s excellent energy absorption and flexibility address the brittleness of conventional concrete, ensuring stable support in high-stress environments. This work provides a sustainable, cost-effective concrete modification strategy, bridging waste recycling and geotechnical engineering, with broad implications for low-intensity, high-toughness material applications.