Preliminary feasibility study of concrete with metallic fibres from end-of-life tires for selfheating pavements

Abstract

This research explores alternatives to industrial metal fibres (IMF) used in concrete, proposing their replacement with metal fibres from end-of-life tires (ELTF) and steel shavings (SS). The objective is to analyse the effects of incorporating ELTF on the mechanical and physical behaviour of concrete intended for self-defrosting pavements. Tests indicate that the 1.5% IMF + 13.5% SS mixture exhibits compressive strength equivalent to that of conventional concrete, while the 1.5% IMF + 13.5% SS mixture shows a 25.9% decrease compared to the control, attributed to the presence of contaminants. However, superior thermal performance is observed in the mixture with ELTF, which demonstrates 3.4 times greater efficiency in increasing internal temperature compared to the mixture incorporating IMF. Taken together, these results suggest opportunities for innovation in the concrete industry, showing that the use of recycled materials such as FMNFU can contribute not only to reducing costs and the carbon footprint, but also to improving the thermal performance of pavements.