The Mechanics Properties of Foam Concrete Blockwork with Tire Waste Powder Additive

Abstract

The development in civil industry worldwide have made way for the production of foam concrete blockwork. It is getting popular in current market but it lacks some significant mechanical properties such as compressive strength. The integration of tire powder into foam concrete improves its strength and workability while addressing tire waste, creating a sustainable and efficient construction material. This paper assesses the mechanical of foam concrete blockwork by incorporating tire powder as an additive, addressing both construction performance and environmental concerns. Various percentages of tire powder (0%, 5%, 10 %, 15%, 20%) were added to foam concrete mixes, which were then cast into blocks and cured for 7 and 28 days. Testing revealed that as the percentage of tire powder increases, the compressive strength will also increase as the foam concrete blockwork with 20% tire waste powder records the highest reading for average compressive strength for 7 and 28 days with the reading of 18.6 and 22.6 N/mm2. Besides, foam concrete with 20% tire waste powder also achieced a lesser water absorption with 1.3% after being in water bath for 24 hours. This approach demonstrates a novel use of recycled tire waste, contributing to sustainable construction and waste management. The findings support further exploration of optimized mix designs and practical aplplications in the construction industry.  The contribution of foam concrete blockwork in terms of engineering to the society is its reduced structural load, which allows for cost savings in the design and construction of foundations and structural supports.