Preparation of low-cost reactive powder concrete using waste steel fibres recycled from scrap tires

The application of reactive powder concrete (RPC) was not wide. One of the main problems was that copper-coated steel fibres (CSF) were expensive. In order to prepare low-cost RPC and resource utilisation of waste steel fibres recycled from scrap tires (WSF), this paper investigated the fluidity and strength of RPC containing WSF. The results indicated that the fluidity of RPC containing WSF was worse than that of RPC containing CSF. But there was not much difference in the strength of two kinds of RPC. In order to optimise performance of RPC containing WSF, the influence of mineral admixtures on the fluidity and strength of RPC was discussed. The results indicated that the optimum silica fume dosage was 20%, and the optimum fly ash and limestone powder dosages were 5%, respectively. Through this study, it was completely feasible to prepare RPC containing WSF. The use of WSF can reduce the cost of RPC.