Construction of a test embankment using a sand-tire shred mixture as fill material.

Use of tire shreds in construction projects, such as highway embankments, is becoming an accepted way of beneficially recycling scrap tires. However, in the last decade there was a decline in the use of pure tire shreds as fill materials in embankment construction, as they are susceptible to fire hazards due to the development of exothermic reactions. Tire shred-sand mixtures, on the other hand, were found to be effective in inhibiting exothermic reactions. When compared with pure tire shreds, tire shred-sand mixtures are less compressible and have higher shear strength. However, the literature contains limited information on the use of tire shred-soil mixtures as a fill material. The objectives of this paper are to discuss and evaluate the feasibility of using tire shred-sand mixtures as a fill material in embankment construction. A test embankment constructed using a 50/50 mixture, by volume, of tire shreds and sand was instrumented and monitored to: (a) determine total and differential settlements; (b) evaluate the environmental impact of the embankment construction on the groundwater quality due to leaching of fill material; and (c) study the temperature variation inside the embankment. The findings in this research indicate that mixtures of tire shreds and sand are viable materials for embankment construction.

[1]  V. Garga,et al.  Tire-reinforced earthfill. Part 3: Environmental assessment , 2000 .

[2]  Gary J. Foose,et al.  Sand Reinforced with Shredded Waste Tires , 1996 .

[3]  Tuncer B. Edil,et al.  CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OF A SHREDDED WASTE TIRE TEST EMBANKMENT , 1992 .

[4]  Dana N. Humphrey,et al.  TIRE CHIPS AS LIGHTWEIGHT SUBGRADE FILL AND RETAINING WALL BACKFILL , 2007 .

[5]  A Kaya.  Potential Use of Tire Rubber and Ebonite in Asphalt: Synthesis Study : Executive Summary , 1992 .

[6]  Ahmed Shalaby,et al.  PERFORMANCE OF A ROAD BASE CONSTRUCTED WITH SHREDDED RUBBER TIRES , 2002 .

[7]  W. Ealding,et al.  Final report on leachable metals in scrap tires , 1992 .

[8]  Imtiaz Ahmed,et al.  Laboratory study on properties of rubber-soils , 1993 .

[9]  A. E. Greenberg,et al.  Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater : supplement to the sixteenth edition , 1988 .

[10]  C. Benson,et al.  Interaction Between Reinforcing Geosynthetics and Soil-Tire Chip Mixtures , 1998 .

[11]  Rodrigo Salgado,et al.  Laboratory study on the use of tire shreds and rubber-sand in backfills and reinforced soil applications. Final report , 1996 .

[12]  Dana N. Humphrey,et al.  Prototype Tire-Shred Embankment Construction , 2001 .

[13]  C W Lovell,et al.  RUBBER SOILS AS LIGHTWEIGHT GEOMATERIALS , 1993 .

[14]  Jorge G. Zornberg,et al.  Title of Paper: Mechanical Performance of a Prototype Embankment Backfill Built With Tire Shreds and Cohesive Soil. , 2004 .

[15]  R D Holtz.  TREATMENT OF PROBLEM FOUNDATIONS FOR HIGHWAY EMBANKMENTS , 1989 .

[16]  T B Edil,et al.  DEVELOPMENT OF ENGINEERING CRITERIA FOR SHREDDED WASTE TIRES IN HIGHWAY APPLICATIONS. FINAL REPORT , 1992 .

[17]  B Westerberg,et al.  GEOTECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROPERTIES OF TYRE SHREDS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS , 2001 .

[18]  Elias,et al.  GROUND IMPROVEMENT TECHNICAL SUMMARIES VOLUME I , 2000 .

[19]  Horace Moo-Young,et al.  GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR SCRAP TIRES UTILIZATION IN EMBANKMENTS , 2001 .

[20]  Joey Mead,et al.  Environmental effects of recycled rubber in light-fill applications , 2000 .

[21]  J. D. Simm,et al.  Sustainable re-use of tyres in port, coastal and river engineering. Guidance for planning, implementation and maintenance , 2004 .

[22]  S. Emerson,et al.  AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials). 2001. A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets. Fourth Edition. Washington, D.C. , 2007 .

[23]  K W Lee,et al.  Assessment of Water Pollutants from Asphalt Pavement Containing Recycled Rubber in Rhode Island , 1998 .

[24]  Grant Crane,et al.  Scrap Tire Disposal Procedures , 1978 .

[25]  Ken Collins,et al.  A Review of Waste Tyre Utilisation in the Marine Environment , 1995 .

[26]  D N Humphrey,et al.  FIELD PERFORMANCE OF TIRE CHIPS AS SUBGRADE INSULATION FOR RURAL ROADS , 1995 .

[27]  Dana N. Humphrey,et al.  Properties of Tire Chips for Lightweight Fill , 1992 .

[28]  Dana N. Humphrey,et al.  TIRE CHIPS AS LIGHTWEIGHT BACKFILL FOR RETAINING WALLS - PHASE II , 1998 .

[29]  Dana N. Humphrey,et al.  Shear strength and compressibility of tire chips for use as retaining wall backfill , 1993 .

[30]  Ken Collins,et al.  Environmental impact assessment of a scrap tyre artificial reef , 2002 .

[31]  Jerry A. Yamamuro,et al.  Effects of non-plastic fines on minimum and maximum void ratios of sand , 1998 .

[32]  A B Hird,et al.  TYRE WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: A MASS BALANCE APPROACH , 2002 .

[33]  D N Humphrey,et al.  RESEARCH PAYS OFF: TIRE SHREDS SAVE MONEY FOR MAINE , 2000 .

[34]  Peter Shane Zimmerman.  Compressibility, hydraulic conductivity, and soil infiltration testing of tire shreds and field testing of a shredded tire horizontal drain , 1997 .