GEOTECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROPERTIES OF TYRE SHREDS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS

摘要

The paper describes an experimental study undertaken to examine geotechnical and environmental properties of tyre shreds. Tyre shreds of the size 50x50 mm~2 were investigated regarding compressibility, density and permeability. For this purpose a new apparatus with a diameter of 0.64 m was developed. The shear strength was tested for granulate of the tyre material using a conventional direct shear apparatus. Tyre granulate, < 10 mm, was investigated from environmental point of view. Leachability of PAHs, sulphur and metals was studied in neutral and strong basic environment. The results show that tyre shreds are a lowdensity material (440-990 kg/m~3) with a high compressibility (40% at 400 kPa) and a very high permeability (3-8 cm/sec at 400 kPa). The shear strength is lower compared to material such as sand and gravel. Tyre shreds contain leachable PAHs and metals, however in proper application the leached amount of these elements will be negligible. The conducted laboratory tests indicate that the investigated material has a good potential to be used in civil engineering applications. Full-scale test sites of tyre shreds in constructions as lightweight fill in road embankments and as landfill drainage material will be built in early 2001.