Use of rubberized concrete to reduce high velocity impact on walls in training bases

Abstract

Discarded waste rubber has become a major problem to the environment due to the increase of rubber usage in the modern world. As a solution, waste rubber can be embedded in rubberized concrete by partially replacing the fine and coarse aggregates. Due to the nature of rubber, there is a high potential for the rubberized concrete to have high impact absorbent properties. Most of the firing rang walls are made with normal concrete and bricks in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study focuses on investigating the use of rubberized concrete for firing range walls. The study consists of an experimental analysis of live fire tests and a numerical analysis of the high velocity impacts. Penetration depth and crater diameter were taken as the scales of measuring the level of damage to the walls. Numerical analysis results show lower penetration depth in rubberized concrete than in normal concrete. However, experimental analysis shows higher penetration depth in rubberized concrete compared to normal concrete. However, it is worth noticing that the crater diameter and cracks around the penetration are comparatively improved in the case of rubberized concrete. Therefore, rubberized concrete appeared to be a better alternative for firing range walls.