Numerical Mesoscale Analysis of Rubber Size, Rubber Content, and Specimen Size Effects on Crumb Rubber Concrete Using BFEM
Mahmoud M. A. Kamel1,2, Yu Fu3, S. Z. Abeer4, Zaman Mohamed Al-Delfi4, Yijiang Peng1,*
1 Key Laboratory of Urban Security and Disaster Engineering, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
2 Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
3 China Institute of Building Standard Design Research, Haidian District, Beijing, China
4 Roads and Transportation Engineering Department College of Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq
* Corresponding Author: Yijiang Peng. Email: 
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advanced Computational Modeling and Simulations for Engineering Structures and Multifunctional Materials: Bridging Theory and Practice)
Computers, Materials & Continua https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2026.078775
Received 07 January 2026; Accepted 04 March 2026; Published online 31 March 2026
Abstract
Crumb rubber concrete (CRC) has emerged as a sustainable solution to the environmental challenges posed by rubber waste. This study introduces an advanced mixed-random-aggregate mesoscale model for CRC based on the Base Force Element Method (BFEM) and the complementary energy principle. The model incorporates different rubber substitution ratios (0%–30%), rubber particle sizes (2 mm and 4 mm), and specimen dimensions (edge lengths of 100, 150, and 300 mm). These parameters are considered to investigate their effects on the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of CRC. Accordingly, the numerical results include stress–strain responses, elastic modulus, and damage progression patterns. The results indicate that increasing rubber content leads to a pronounced reduction in both tensile and compressive strengths. This drop occurs mainly because rubber particles have a much lower elastic modulus. Thus, they represent stress concentrators and weak points, which accelerate the sample failure. Moreover, for the same replacement ratio, CRC with smaller rubber particles (2 mm) exhibits lower strength than CRC with larger particles (4 mm). This reduction occurs because the finer particles create more interfacial areas, introducing more sites for defect initiation and micro-cracks. In addition, increasing specimen size is associated with reduced strength and elastic modulus, highlighting size-dependent phenomena in CRC. The numerical predictions show good agreement with experimental results reported in the literature.
Keywords
Base force element method (BFEM); complementary energy principle; crumb rubber concrete (CRC); meso-damage analysis; random aggregate model
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