Membrane Penetration Remedy for the Testing of Lightly Cemented Scrap Rubber Tire Chips

Abstract

Abstract Lightly cemented scrap rubber tire chips have been proposed as lightweight geomaterial (LGM) for various geotechnical applications, not only because of its advantageous engineering properties but also because of its capability to cope with the scrap tire disposal problem. In this research, gravel-sized tire chips are bonded together by portland cement to form a highly porous structure that is ductile and stiff for geotechnical works. However, the study on this material under a conventional triaxial system is difficult because of serious membrane penetration. A plastic-plate-reinforced membrane together with patching up of the sample surface voids by a scrap tire powder paste is proposed to cope with the penetration problem. This method has been successfully applied to tests under confining pressures in the order of MPa. Test results have shown that the extra axial resistance and radial confinement due to this method are slight.