Abstract
This study examines the creep deformations and long-term strength properties of rubberised one-part alkali 9 activated concrete with relatively high rubber contents, which have not been previously reported. The 10 aluminosilicate precursors used in the mix design are blast furnace slag and fly ash, at a ratio of 4-to-1, while 11 anhydrous sodium metasilicate is used as the solid activator. Crumb rubber particles are used to replace 30 and 12 60% by volume of the total natural aggregates, and a non-rubberised one-part alkali-activated concrete mix is 13 also prepared for comparison purposes. The creep specimens are subjected to two levels of sustained loads, 14 representing 10 and 20% of the 28-day compressive strength. The creep loads are applied after 28 days of 15 ambient curing and creep deformations are monitored for a period of one year. The results clearly show a 16 deterioration in mechanical properties with higher rubber content, regardless of the testing age. The 17 compressive strength and elastic modulus of the unloaded and loaded creep specimens, tested at an age of 393 18 days, are generally lower than that observed for similar specimens tested at 28 days. The axial and lateral 19 crushing strains of the specimens tested at 393 days are significantly higher than their counterparts tested at 28 20 days. The creep strains, measured over 365 days, increase as the applied stress level increases, but reduce with 21 higher rubber content. The creep coefficients and specific creep values of the tested specimens over 365 days 22 experience a reduction as the applied stress level increases, while the opposite is seen as the rubber content 23 increases. The creep coefficients of rubberised one-part alkali-activated concrete are generally higher than 24 those given by prediction models in various codes for conventional concrete. The rate of creep development is 25 also more significant than conventional concrete and does not show signs of slowing down after 365 days of 26 sustained loading.