Feasibility of using rubber waste fibers as reinforcements for sandy soils

Abstract

In this study, an alternative and environmentally friendly method for the reinforcement of dune sand is proposed. This technique consists of using randomly distributed rubber fibers to improve the engineering properties of sand. Rubber fibers are added to the sand with different percentages: 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2% of dry weight of sand. The experimental program carried out consists of investigating the effect of rubber fibers on the shear strength properties of sand. Reinforced and unreinforced samples are tested in the dense as well as loose state. The results obtained showed that the inclusion of rubber fibers in dune sand will improve the engineering properties of various civil engineering applications such as shallow foundations and slope. Therefore, incorporation of rubber fibers can enhance the shear strength characteristics, peak and residual strengths, and introduce more ductility to the mechanical behavior of sand. In addition to the technical effect, this paper emphasizes another environmentally attractive option, which is the use of rubber fibers as reinforcements for granular soils as this helps to remove some parts of these wastes and protect the environment.

Comparison of Nanomaterials with Other Unconventional Materials Used as Additives for Soil Improvement in the Context of Sustainable Development: A Review

“…Except for old tires, rubber particle recycled from old garden hoses, plastic shoes and other items can also increase the shear strength of the treated soil [ 70 ]. Specially, short rubber fibers can reduce the displacement rate and improve the ductility of sandy soil [ 71 ]. Moreover, adding waste broken glass powder or waste textile fibers also has positive effect on the strength and deformation performance of soil [ 72 , 73 , 74 ].…”

Direct and Indirect Tensile Behavior of Cement-Zeolite-amended Sand Reinforced with Kenaf Fiber

“…The effect of materials such as cement, lime, fly ash, polymers, resins, acids, and ions has been investigated by researchers for years (2). As one of the conventional and most prevalent soil stabilizers, numerous geotechnical researchers have justified cement to hand over many advantages, including higher strength and stiffenss, liquefaction resistance, lifespan increment, and curbing deformations (2,5,6).…”

Liquefaction potential of reinforced sand with plastic wastes

“…This can be beneficially used in settlement reduction and improvement of bearing capacity in shallow foundations design [35]. Meddah and Merzoug [36] evaluated the shear strength properties of sand reinforced with rubber fibers in the dense and loose state with fiber percentages of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2% of the sand dry weight. Their results revealed that the rubber fibers use in the dune sand is not only the environmentally friendly method but also it improves the peak strength, residual strengths, and characteristics of shear strength, and makes the mechanical behavior of sand more ductile [36].…”