23/01/2025
Project Number: IIRG004B-2021IISS
Project Title: The Seismic Performance of a New Composite Metallic Damper Incorporated with Recycled Rubber Subjected to Cyclic Loading
Project Investigator (PI): Dr. Tan Chee Ghuan
Co-researchers:
1) Prof. Dr. Ahmed Hussein Kamel Ahmed Elshafie
2) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zainah Ibrahim
3) Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Meldi Suhatril
4) Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Fadzli Mohamed Nazri
5) Dr. Khaled Ghaedi
Research Student: Abdulmajeed Ali Mohammed Nasser Al-hokabi
Executive Summary
Globally, the accumulation of waste tires presents a significant environmental challenge, with annual production exceeding 800 million units and projected to reach 1.2 billion by 2030. In Malaysia, this issue is equally critical; in 2020 alone, the country consumed 1,072,566 tonnes of rubber, but only 37,134 tonnes were reclaimed and repurposed, as reported by the Malaysia Rubber Board (2024). Improper disposal methods, such as illegal dumping and open burning, exacerbate environmental degradation by contaminating soil, groundwater, and air, while releasing harmful substances like styrene. Concurrently, seismic activity poses substantial risks to infrastructure, especially in regions with inadequate earthquake-resistant construction practices. Although metallic dampers are widely used for seismic energy dissipation, their production remains resource-intensive.
This study explores the potential of recycled rubber derived from waste tires as a sustainable alternative material for seismic energy dissipation devices. Leveraging the viscoelastic properties of recycled rubber, a novel composite metallic damper was developed, integrating recycled rubber between metallic plates to enhance damping performance under cyclic loading. The damper design aimed to optimize energy dissipation, equivalent damping ratio, and structural durability while addressing environmental sustainability.
The research involved designing and fabricating composite dampers with varied configurations, including differences in bar height and the number of embedded bars. Quasi-static cyclic loading tests were conducted using a specialized rig, where force-displacement behavior and energy dissipation per cycle were analyzed. The results demonstrated that dampers incorporating recycled rubber exhibited excellent energy dissipation, with performance strongly influenced by bar height and configuration. Smaller bar heights and increased embedded bars resulted in improved stiffness and energy absorption. Additionally, the recycled rubber maintained structural integrity under cyclic loading, validating its suitability as a damping material.
Comparative analysis with conventional metallic dampers revealed that the proposed composite dampers offered equivalent or superior seismic performance. The synergistic interaction between rubber and steel enhanced energy dissipation, combining the elasticity of rubber with the rigidity of steel to create a balanced mechanism for absorbing and dissipating seismic forces. Effective bonding between the rubber and metallic components ensured robust stress transfer and resistance to delamination, further improving damping efficiency and reliability under seismic conditions.
This research aligns with Malaysia's commitment to sustainable development under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan and advances multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). By transforming waste tires into high-performance construction materials, the study promotes a circular economy while contributing to the development of disaster-resilient and environmentally friendly infrastructure.
