ANALYSIS OF THE PHYSICALAND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WASTE TIRE RUBBER AS A PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF FINE AGGREGATE IN CONCRETE

The objective of this study is to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of concrete with waste tire rubber (WTR) as a partial substitute for sand, considering local materials from the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia, to promote a circular economy. The sand was replaced by WTR (in volume) in four percentages: 0% (reference), 5%, 10%, and 20%, evaluating its mechanical properties (resistance to compression, traction, and bending) and physical properties (specific mass, water absorption, and void index). The results indicate that there is a tendency to decrease with a higher percentage of WTR, both for mechanical resistance and for physical properties, except for the mixture with 5% WTR, which had results comparable to concrete with natural sand. WTR can be used in the local production of concrete up to 5% without compromising its mechanical and physical properties, in addition to having a sustainable approach.