Influence Of Tire-Shreds' Aspect Ratio On Performance Of Mechanically Stabilized Retaining Walls

Abstract

Reusing scrap tires to save storage space or lower traditional disposal risks is among today's environmental challenges. Current, recycled tires are considered low-cost, lightweight materials to improve soils and retaining walls, backfills, and roadbeds. The present study investigated the effect of tire shred’s aspect ratio and weight percentage on the bearing capacity and displacement of the stabilized mechanical retaining wall with multi-plate anchors under static loading. To this end, sandy soils containing tire shreds with widths of 1 and 2 cm, aspect ratios of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and weight percentages of 5, 10, 15, and 20% were examined. Also, direct shear tests were conducted for determining the shear strength parameters of the mixtures. The results demonstrated that adding more tire shreds increased bearing capacity. Also, it was found that by increasing the weight percentage of tire shreds in the mixture at a constant aspect ratio, the bearing capacity of the mixture increased. At a constant aspect ratio, the horizontal wall displacement incremented by increasing the weight percentage of the tire shreds. Furthermore, the wall's bearing capacity was enhanced at a constant weight percentage by increasing the aspect ratio of tire shreds. The results of Piv analysis show that by increasing tire shreds aspect ratio, the particle strains on the slip surface will be increased.