Mechanical Properties of Steel-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Abstract

The rapid increase in a vehicle’s use leads to tire waste, the management of which is of social and environmental concern. The steel wires in a tire have good application in concrete if the proper amount and distribution of steel fiber in the concrete matrix is ensured. This experimental setup evaluates the dosage effect of steel fiber with different ratios on the compressive, splitting tensile, and flexure strength of concrete. The relationship of flexure and compressive strength vs. the dosage of steel fiber is also investigated. A significant enhancement in compressive and flexure strength was found with the use of steel fiber. Moreover, the effect of the length of steel fiber on the mechanical properties of concrete is checked. A 2% dosage of steel fiber with a 3′ length showed excellent performance in compression and flexure. The first crack appeared at a 10% greater load than the control specimen. Based on detailed analysis, a 2% dosage with a 3′ fiber length can be used for the commercial production of structural concrete.