Enhancing Concrete Durability Through Hybrid Waste Tire Steel Fiber Integration

This research investigates the effects of waste tire steel fibers (WSFs) on the durability characteristics of concrete, specifically examining water absorption, carbonation, and split-tensile strength. The integration of WSFs into construction materials offers a viable solution to address the growing environmental challenges associated with discarded tires. Although existing studies have touched upon the incorporation of WSFs in concrete, there remains a significant lack of comprehensive long-term data regarding the properties of WSF-reinforced concrete. To address this knowledge gap, this study analyzes the performance of locally sourced WSFs from Bratislava, Slovakia, focusing on the hardened properties of concrete beyond the conventional curing period of 28 days. The investigation applies C20/25 concrete, integrating various percentages (0%, 0.50%, and 0.60%) of raw WSFs in a hybrid composition, which consists of 30% industrial steel fibers and 70% WSFs. The experimental analysis encompasses assessments of split-tensile strength (STS), rapid carbonation depth (CD), and water absorption (WA) for specimens aged 600 days. Results indicate that hybrid WSF-reinforced concrete (HRC) exhibits reduced carbonation depth and water absorption in comparison to conventional concrete, alongside an improved split-tensile strength. The findings suggest that HRC has significant potential as a substitute for traditional concrete in various civil engineering applications. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to evaluate the performance of HRC under extreme environmental conditions.