Recycled Rubber Concrete Noise Barriers
Waste Type:
Main Circular Economy Strategy:
KEYWORDS
Summary
RUCONBAR, developed in Croatia through collaboration between Beton Lučko, Gumiimpex-GRP, and the University of Zagreb, is an EU Eco-Innovation project that uses recycled tire rubber in concrete panels to create durable, lightweight, and highly sound-absorbent highway noise barriers.
Description
RUCONBAR is a joint innovation developed in Croatia through a public-private-academic collaboration between:
◼ Beton Lučko – a precast concrete manufacturer,
◼ Gumiimpex-GRP – a tire recycling and rubber processing company,
◼ University of Zagreb – Faculty of Civil Engineering.
Launched under the EU Eco-Innovation Programme (2011–2014), RUCONBAR was created to simultaneously address end-of-life tire waste and urban noise pollution through an infrastructure solution using recycled rubber-enhanced concrete for highway noise barriers.
RUCONBAR panels incorporate shredded and cleaned tire rubber granules into concrete to form highly sound-absorbent, durable, and lighter-weight roadside noise barriers:
◼ Panel Structure:
• A porous front layer (~4 cm) made of concrete with ~40% rubber granules by volume for sound absorption.
◼ A dense back layer of standard or reinforced concrete for structural stability.
◼ Rubber Source: Granulated rubber comes from end-of-life tires, processed by Gumiimpex (removing fibers and steel, ensuring granule uniformity).
◼ Production Process: Modified cement mix accommodates the hydrophobic rubber and ensures good binding.
◼ The porous layer is minimally vibrated to preserve air voids, enhancing acoustic absorption.
◼ Panels are CE-certified for use on roads and railways, meeting EN 14388 noise barrier standards.
◼ Performance Metrics: One kilometer of RUCONBAR wall uses ~46.4 tons of rubber (≈7,800 tires).
◼ Delivers high acoustic absorption (Class A3–A4).
RUCONBAR exemplifies product design for circularity, creating a new infrastructure product from a problematic waste stream.
Environmental Perspective
The environmental benefits of RUCONBAR are substantial and multi-dimensional:
◼ Waste Reduction: Thousands of tires diverted per km from landfill or incineration (≈171 t CO₂ avoided per km if not burned).
◼ Material Substitution: Rubber replaces ~40% of mineral aggregate in the absorptive layer, reducing natural resource extraction.
◼ Pollution Prevention: Rubber embedded in concrete prevents leaching and emissions.
◼ Avoids toxic air pollution from tire combustion.
◼ Carbon and Energy Savings:
◼ Lower embodied energy by reusing pre-processed rubber.
◼ Helps sequester material otherwise lost in linear disposal chains.
◼ Noise Reduction: Porous rubber layer absorbs sound, reducing traffic noise pollution and improving quality of life for nearby communities and ecosystems.
◼ Durability & Lightness: Rubber improves freeze-thaw resilience and reduces panel weight by ~20%, lowering transport-related emissions.
Economic Perspective
RUCONBAR also brings clear economic advantages to companies, governments, and society:
◼ Waste Valorization: Turns scrap tires into a raw material with commercial value.
◼ Reduces public costs for tire disposal or subsidies for incineration.
◼ Cost-Effective Material: Rubber granules are potentially cheaper than high-quality aggregate.
◼ Lighter panels cut logistics and handling costs (less crane capacity, faster installation).
◼ Differentiated Product Offering:Beton Lučko gains a competitive edge with an award-winning, sustainable product.
◼ Ideal for public tenders with recycled content criteria.
◼ Lifecycle Cost Reduction: Built-in acoustic performance may reduce need for separate absorptive layers.
◼ Expected durability matches conventional panels, offering long-term value.
◼ EU Replication Potential:Commercialization across Europe is feasible; production methods can be licensed or replicated using local tire waste.
◼ New Markets and Jobs: Strengthens regional economies by stimulating rubber processing, precast manufacturing, and green innovation.
