Modelling and Optimization of the Impact Resistance of Graphene Oxide Modified Crumb Rubber-ECC Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract This paper presents the findings of an investigation on the impact resistance of graphene oxide (GO) modified rubberized engineered cementitious composite (GOCRECC) and the development of response-predictive models and optimization using response surface methodology (RSM). The input factors considered as the independent variables were the GO at 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08% addition by cement weight and crumb rubber (CR) at 1, 3 and 5% replacement of fine aggregate. Fifteen mixes having different quantities of input factors were used for the determination of the initial (E1) and ultimate (E2) impact energy using the ACI 544. R drop weight impact test method. The results showed that impact resistance of the GOCRECC mixes increased with increasing contents of the input factors. Response predictive models for E1 and E2 were developed and found to have high R2 values of 78 and 93% respectively, after validation using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimization performed yielded an optimal amounts of the input factors of 0.0347 and 5% for GO and CR respectively at a desirability value of 74%.