Performance of retaining wall backfilled with tire aggregate under static and dynamic loading conditions: conventional designs and finite element simulations

The static and dynamic behaviours of a retaining wall backfilled with tire aggregate are investigated in this paper through conventional designs as well as coupled finite element simulations. First, a literature survey is conducted to compile the key geotechnical engineering properties of tire aggregate. The data show that the properties vary with the shred size and possess properties desirable to be considered as a retaining wall backfill. Geotechnical designs and computer simulations show significant reductions in structural demand in terms of maximum shear force and bending moment, and construction cost in terms of excavation behind the wall, material required for constructing a retaining wall, and the volume of backfill material when tire aggregate is used as the backfill. The results of a parametric study indicate that the economic advantage is significant even with the highest and the lowest values of the key properties and the parameters of input motion.