Mechanistic Characterization of Shredded Tire Stress Dissipation and Drainage Sublayers in Roads to Mitigate Frost Heave in Canadian Field State Conditions

Annually over a million scrap tires are generated in Saskatchewan which in the past have been disposed of in landfills and streams. At the same time, Saskatchewan has also experienced a drastic increase in truck traffic on roadway infrastructure that is ageing. This has resulted in the need for the construction of new roads and the rehabilitation of existing ones. In addition, significant changes in climatic conditions have also been recorded including high road substructure moisture problems and an increased number of freeze thaw cycles, both of which can cause cracks and ruts on road surfaces. Previous research work adopted the use of shredded tire material as a drainage layer to mitigate frost and moisture problems. Test sections built using this technology performed well in drainage and frost insulation but performed poorly in providing structural support. This research examines the possibility of improving the structural performance of shredded tire road systems through laboratory and field evaluation.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Curtis F. Berthelot

Student:

Ganiu Abdul Rahman

Partner:

Saskatchewan Scrap Tire Corporation

Discipline:

Engineering - civil

Sector:

Automotive and transportation

University:

University of Saskatchewan