Mechanical Properties of Concrete Slabs Reinforced with Recycled Steel Fibers from Post-Consumer Tires in Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

Millions of post-consumer tires are not adequately disposed of each year, and thus, are producing an enormous environmental problem in the world. This environmental impact may be reduced when assessing this material as an alternative reinforcement for concrete. It is widely known that the toughness of steel fiber-reinforced concrete is suitably assessed by energy absorption tests on slabs. The purpose of this paper is to show and discuss the results of a research aimed at assessing the mechanical response of concrete slabs reinforced with recycled steel fibers from post-consumer tires in Bogotá, Colombia. The testing program of the study comprised 31 axial compression tests on cylinders, and 15 bending tests on concrete slabs reinforced with nominal dosages of 15, 30, and 60 kg/m3 of industrial steel fibers or recycled fibers obtained from post-consumer tires. Based on the measured response, preliminary design equations are proposed to estimate the mechanical properties of concrete reinforced with recycled steel fibers.