Transforming Concrete Using Waste Tire Steel Wires for Enhanced Strength and Sustainability

The rapid growth of urban infrastructure and vehicle ownership has dramatically increased concrete consumption and waste tire generation, posing significant environmental challenges. This study investigates the feasibility of using waste tire steel fibers (WTSF) recovered from end-of-life tires as reinforcement in concrete to enhance mechanical performance while promoting sustainable construction. A reference concrete mix targeting 35 MPa compressive strength was modified with WTSF at 1%, 2%, 3%, and 5% by cement weight. Workability and compressive strength were evaluated through slump tests and cube testing at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Results show that fiber incorporation had minimal impact on workability (slump 10–10.5 cm) and significantly improved compressive strength across all curing ages. The 3% fiber mix achieved the highest 28-day strength of 55.94 MPa, a 20.1% increase over reference concrete, while the 5% mix offered superior early-age strength but showed reduced long-term gains due to fiber clustering. These findings highlight an optimal fiber content balancing strength enhancement, uniform fiber distribution, and workability. Reusing tire-derived WTSF reduces reliance on virgin steel, mitigates waste accumulation, and supports circular economy principles. This research demonstrates that WTSF are an effective, sustainable reinforcement material and provides a framework for their integration into high-performance, eco-efficient concrete design. The results demonstrate the potential of tire-derived steel fibers for use in structural concrete applications where enhanced compressive strength and sustainability are simultaneously required.