Feasibility study on utilisation of clay–waste tyre rubber mix as construction material

This paper assesses the possibility of utilisation of clay–waste tyre rubber mixes as construction materials for geotechnical structures. Rubber granulates (R g ) and rubber fibres (R f ) were blended with 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% clay content. The various combinations of clay–rubber granulates (CR g ) and clay–rubber fibres (CR f ) were subjected to the sequence of compaction, strength, consolidation and swelling pressure tests. A linear decrementing trend of compaction parameters was observed with an increase in R g and R f contents. An insignificant rise in unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and splitting tensile strength (STS) of clay was observed with the addition of R g and R f up to 5 and 2.5%, respectively. Higher inclusions had reduced the UCS and STS of clay. However, a continual increase in failure strain was observed with an increase in R g and R f contents. The compression index of CR g and CR f mixtures was found to increase with the increase of R g and R f contents. A continuous decrease in the soaked California bearing ratio and swelling pressure (σ s ) of CR g and CR f mixtures was observed with the increase in R g and R f contents. In view of code requirements, the pre-requisite treatment of CR g and CR f mixtures should be carried out before field applications.