Compaction and Strength Behavior of Tire Crumbles–Fly Ash Mixed with Clay

Abstract

Use of admixtures to improve the engineering behavior of soil is a popular ground improvement technique. Fly ash and tire crumbles are industrial wastes that can be used for the improvement of the engineering behavior of soil. In the present study the compaction and strength behaviors of kaoline clay mixed with tire waste and fly ash alone and in combined forms are studied. To evaluate the compaction behavior, a modified Proctor test was used, and for strength behavior, California bearing ratio (CBR) tests were conducted. Test results have shown that with the inclusion of fly ash and tire crumbles maximum dry density decreases and optimum moisture content increases. In cases in which fly ash and tire crumbles were used alone, a maximum of five-fold and three-fold improvement over CBR values were observed, respectively. But when both fly ash and tire crumbles were used together as admixtures, a 1-fold improvement over the CBR value of clay was observed.