Strength Characteristics of Lateritic Soil Reinforced with Waste Rubber Tyre Strips

Abstract

Safe and effective disposal of waste tyres have become a challenge
today as the number of wastes tyres lying about increase daily and
pose both environmental pollution and health problem to individuals.
This study is aimed at evaluating the characteristics strength of soil
reinforced with waste rubber tyre strips which will in turn cause a
major reduction and subsequent elimination of the problem
aforementioned. The soil samples used for this research were obtained
from the University of Benin, from three different bore holes at depths
of 1.0m and 1.5m each. Soil tests were carried out on the soil sample
in its natural state which included natural moisture content specific
gravity, sieve analysis, Atterberg limit, compaction and California
Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests. The soil samples were thereafter
reinforced with the waste tyre strips of sizes 0.5cm and 0.8 cm.
Compaction test and CBR test were also carried out on the soil
reinforced with waste rubber tyre strips. The results from the test
showed that the soil did not increase in strength but rather reduced
because the value of the Maximum Dry Density (MDD) decreased
slightly with the reinforcing material from 1.67g/cm3 to 1.82g/cm3 for
the unreinforced to 1.62g/cm3 to 1.73g/cm3 for the reinforced likewise
the CBR results which reduced from (3.01% to 20.32%) to (1.73% to
7.68%) for the soaked and from (5.04% to 24.77%) to (6.77% to
21.55%).