Transforming waste into strength with recycled tire steel fibers for superior concrete performance

Despite extensive research on using waste tire fibers in concrete, a detailed examination of flexural toughness, impact resistance, and optimized fiber dosage for applications in high-stress industrial floors and slabs remains limited. This study uniquely focuses on maximizing these properties by varying waste tire steel fiber content to determine the ideal mix for enhanced performance in concrete, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional steel fibers. The fibers’ diameter was 0.82mm and length was equal to 50 mm with an aspect ratio of 61. A design mix with compressive strength equal to 25-30 MPa at different dosages of fibers i.e., 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% by volume of concrete was prepared and results were compared with control concrete samples for applicability in slabs on grade and industrial floors. Workability was reduced by fiber addition, but SP was adjusted to achieve the target slump. Split tensile strength, compressive strength, and flexure strength were improved with maximum values at 1.5% fiber content. Post-peak behavior and toughness were significantly improved by adding fibers. Impact resistance results were also promising for the first crack and ultimate failure.