Laboratory pullout investigation for evaluate feasibility use of scrap tire as reinforcement element in mechanically stabilized earth walls

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of utilizing the scrap tire as the reinforcement element in the Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls (MSEWs). More than 50 laboratory large-scale pullout tests (i.e. 1.40 m × 0.8 m × 0.8 m) under different normal stresses were conducted to evaluate the performance of the newly suggested reinforcement element that made up of the scrap tire which is called Geo Scrap Tire (GST). The dimension optimization analysis performed for the GST strip, and the width of 70 mm, selected as the optimum width. The part of the scrap tire was used as transversal members on the GST strip in order to increase the pullout resistance and to use the side of the scrap tire. Laboratory pullout tests were validated with the theoretical analysis and compared to other conventional strip reinforcement elements such as the steel strip and the geosynthetic. The experimental pullout results showed that the innovative suggested reinforcement element performed better than the other strips so that the GST strip was capable of increasing pullout resistance by more than 2 and 2.5 times compared to the geosynthetic strip and the steel strip. Moreover, the use of four transverse members resulted in the highest pullout resistance and the least interference; this system might increase the maximum pullout resistance more than 3 and 4 times related to the geosynthetic strip and the steel strip.