CHALLENGE JOURNAL OF CONCRETE RESEARCH LETTERS 9 (2) (2018) 52–61 * Corresponding author. E-mail address: fatma_elzahraa2002@yahoo.com (F. M. Eid) ISSN: 2548-0928 / DOI: https://doi.org/10.20528/cjcrl.2018.02.002 Research Article Prediction of self compacted rubberized concrete properties using Taguch methods Mohamed Safaan, Fatma M. Eid *, Amal A. Nasser, Mohamed Emara Department of Civil Engineering, Menoufia University, Shebin ElKoum, Menofia, Egypt A B S T R A C T The effect and optimization of using self-compacting rubberized concrete was inves- tigated by using Taguchi method. Design of experiment was performed via orthogo- nal array to accommodate four factors with four levels. These factors were the per- centage of fine rubber, coarse rubber, fly ash and viscocrete in the concrete mix. The signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to study the performance characteristics of self-compacting rubberized concrete (SCRC). Rubberized concrete can be improved using the concrete proportioned as self-compacting concrete. The results indicate that there was a reduction in the strength with increasing rubber content but there was an increase in impact re- sistance. However, the replacement of 10% of coarse aggregate with coarse rubber gave more strength than that of zero rubber mix by 124% at 90 days. Replacement of 20% of both fine and coarse aggregates with fine and coarse rubber respectively, in- creased impact resistance by 453% compared to the corresponding SCRC control mix. A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 10 February 2018 Accepted 29 May 2018 Keywords: Rubber Recycling Self-compacting concrete Taguchi method ANOVA 1. Introduction Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is a sophisticated high performance concrete (Taha et al., 2008) described as the ‘‘most revolutionary step’’ in concrete technology over the last two decades due to its impact on economic and environmental sustainability in the construction in- dustry (Ouchi and Okamura, 2003). It offers the ad- vantages of increased productivity rates, decreased manpower, and elimination of the noise and fuel con- sumption associated with vibrator plant (Ouchi and Oka- mura, 1999). In comparison with plain concrete, it has the ability to fully self-compact under its own weight and has high flowability and filling rates, reduced blocking in congested reinforced areas, and high segregation re- sistance, as well as high durability, low permeability and high compressive strength (Bignozzi and Sandrolini, 2006). Solid waste disposal is a major environmental issue on cities around the world (Najim and Hall, 2012). The vol- ume of polymeric waste like tyre rubber is increasing. The waste tyre rubber becomes an environmental problem due to its non-biodegradable nature. Up to now a small part is recycled and millions of tyres are just stockpiled; land filled or buried and used as fuel in many industries. Recycling end-of-life vehicle tyres as alternative aggre- gates to produce a new class concrete is an innovative option with environmental, economic and performance benefits (Najim and Hall, 2012). Many researchers have therefore used rubber parti- cles as aggregates in concrete production to eliminate poor deformation capacity, low tensile strength, and im- prove energy absorption capacity. Aggregate rubber particles enhanced deformation and energy absorption capacities while they decreased workability and me- chanical properties (Mishra and Panda, 2015). Self-com- pacting rubberized concrete (SCRC) was produced to di- minish the negative effect of rubber aggregate on the me- chanical properties and workability of concrete (Khalil et al., 2015). Due to the high powder content of SCC its microstructure is very compacted and dense, which re- sults in high mechanical strength and brittle failure modes. Therefore, (SCRC) composites could be used for applications requiring deformable (high ductility