Dynamic Mechanical Performance of Self-compacting Concrete Containing Crumb Rubber under High Strain Rates

The parameters of dynamic mechanical performance at high strain rates are of significant importance in the structural designs and numerical simulations. The aim of this paper is to study the strain rate sensitivity of self-compacting rubberized concrete (SCRC) in the dynamic compressive, splitting tensile and bending tests by using the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique. The failure modes, stress-strain curves and dynamic strength changes of SCRC under various loading conditions were also observed. The specific energy absorption, dynamic tensile-compressive strength ratios, and dynamic constitutive model of SCRC with different rubber content were also analyzed. The results indicate that SCRC can exhibit stronger strain rate sensitivity compared to SCC when strain rate is enough high, while the strain rate sensitivity of SCRC is lower than that of SCC at when strain rate is less than a critical value. To understand the strain rate sensitivity of SCRC, dynamic constitutive model (ZWT model) based on nonlinear viscoelastic theory was proposed. For impact toughness, although the specific energy absorption decreases with increasing rubber content, the ratios of tensile strength to compressive strength of SCRC have an increasing tendency when rubber content increases.