Enhancement of Tensile Performance of Cementless Fiber-Reinforced Slag Composites Incorporating Recycled Tire Powder

This study investigates the tensile performance of cementless fiber-reinforced slag composites incorporating recycled tire powder (RTP). The primary objective is to enhance the ductility and crack-control capabilities of the material while promoting sustainability by using industrial by-products (slag) and waste materials (tires). RTP is used to replace the fine aggregate (silica sand) by volume in five increments from 0% to 80%. Dog-bone-shaped specimens are fabricated and subjected to direct tensile testing after 28 days of air curing. Crack patterns are analyzed using Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The results indicate that increasing the RTP content leads to a higher number of microcracks and more effective crack width control, which is attributed to the matrix-weakening and crack-bridging effects of the RTP particles. RTP content of 60% was found optimal and significantly enhancing the tensile performance, achieving a tensile strength of 8.25 MPa and strain capacity of 8.16%. This demonstrates the potential of RTP for creating highly ductile, durable, and eco-friendly construction materials.