Evaluation of Strength Characteristics of Recycled Tire Steel and Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate Fibers-Reinforced Concrete for Sustainable Development
1,*Adebambo, O.M., 2 Labiran, J.O., 1, Akinsanya, A.Y., 3Akintunde, O.P. and 1,Akintola.M.A.
1Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria.
2Department of Building Technology, College of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu-Lagos, Nigeria.
3Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
DOI: 10.36108/laujoces/6202.61.0180
Abstract
Many citizens in developing economies face socioeconomic and ecological challenges that limit their access to adequate, comfortable, and affordable housing. Despite global efforts by international institutions like UN-Habitat and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 agenda, which call for citizens to own suitable dwellings, the severe housing shortage in developing countries continues. The rising costs of construction materials, especially reinforced concrete, have led professionals and scholars to collaborate on developing alternative, cost-effective materials such as fiber-reinforced concrete. In other sectors, experts report significant benefits from reusing and recycling household materials like used tires and plastic products. However, few studies have explored reusing domestic waste like used tires and PET plastic bottles as ingredients in construction to help lower costs. This research examines the potential of household waste for green building, aiming to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the carbon footprint, and provide socioeconomic benefits to the population. An experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness, workability, and strength of recycled tire steel fibers (RTSF) combined with waste polyethylene terephthalate fibers (PETF), a hybrid fiber, as reinforcement in conventional concrete. Tests were carried out for various curing periods, including 3, 7, and 28 days, following initial in-situ testing of fresh concrete using slump, compaction, and consistency methods. Scientific analysis focused on hardened concrete tests measuring compressive, split, and flexural strength, comparing the recycled domestic waste materials, RTSF and PETF, with traditional plain concrete. Observations show a notable improvement in workability with increasing PETF content. However, It was noticed that the workability decreases as the additional quantity of hybrid fibers in RTSF with PETF increases compared with the control plain concrete, which significant causes a significant effect on the slump. Meanwhile, tensile strength and toughness improved with the addition of RTSF. This is revealed as the tensile, and the compressive increases as the curing day progresses but the revered was the case as PETF percentage increases. The hybrid RTSF at 0.5 with PETF at 0.2 is recommended for maximum strength.
Keywords: Fiber, Hybrid, Fiber-reinforced concrete, infrastructure, recycle, reuse, end-of-life, Tire,Plastic, Domestic waste.