Effect of Combined Macro-Synthetic Fibers and Crumb Rubber on Concrete Behavior: An Experimental Investigation

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student, Department of Civil Engineering, Sha.c., IslamicAzadUniversity, Shahrood, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Sha.c. Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Sha.c.,Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran.

10.22124/jcr.2026.31288.1713

Abstract

One of the most significant limitations of concrete is its low tensile strength and brittle behavior under tensile and flexural loads. To enhance the mechanical performance of concrete, the use of reinforcing fibers and recycled materials has emerged as an effective and sustainable approach. The present study aims to investigate the combined effect of Corte macro synthetic fibers and crumb rubber on the mechanical properties of concrete, including compressive strength, flexural strength, maximum load capacity of concrete slabs, and ductility, through experimental testing. For this purpose, 24 specimens with three different mix designs containing 1% Corte fibers and 5% and 10% crumb rubber were prepared and tested. The results indicated that the mix design containing 5% crumb rubber and 1% Corte fibers (CG5F1) led to increases of 12.7% in compressive strength, 5.8% in flexural strength, and 21.6% in the maximum load capacity of concrete slabs compared to the control mix. These findings suggest that the addition of Corte fibers can mitigate the potential adverse effects of crumb rubber and improve the mechanical properties of concrete. Consequently, the targeted and controlled use of these additives can contribute to producing concrete with optimized performance aligned with sustainable development principles. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that the use of Corte macro synthetic fibers as reinforcement is suitable and effective for structural applications, whereas the application of crumb rubber is not recommended in structural concrete due to its detrimental impact on certain strength parameters and should be avoided

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References

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