Innovative low cost fibre-reinforced concrete—Part I: Mechanical and durability properties

Over the past decades, significant attention has been focused on waste tyre management, since the presence of waste tyres in the environment can have negative effects on sustainable development. Just like most EU countries, Croatia also recycles large quantities of accumulated tyres, although not all by-products are equally reused. Researchers from Faculty of Civil Engineering University of Zagreb investigate possibilities for reusing rubber and steel fibres obtained during mechanical recycling in the construction of concrete pavements. Research results show that innovative and sustainable concrete mixtures, meeting criteria set in relevant standards, and offering cost savings on pavement construction and rehabilitation projects, can be pre-pared using the mentioned by-products. In addition to environmental benefits, recycled fibres are highly likely to be used as choice material in the future because of cost considerations (they are ten times less expensive when compared to industrial fibres).