Undrained Triaxial Testing of Compacted Rubber Fiber-Clay Composite

Seventh International Congress on Advances in Civil Engineering, İstanbul, Türkiye, 11 - 13 Ekim 2006, sa.386, ss.1-10, (Tam Metin Bildiri)

The ductility, toughness and resistance to tensile cracking of clays can be improved with

the inclusion of short fibers. Tire buffings are derived from the tire retread process and,

because of their elongated shape, may be used as fiber inclusions. The objective of the

present research is to study the undrained shear strength and permeability of a mixture

of clay and short tire buffings. Silty low plasticity kaolinitic clay and 10% by dry

weight of tire buffings were compacted at standard compaction energy. Consolidated

undrained triaxial tests were conducted at confining stresses ranging from 50-300 kPa

and the permeability was measured prior to shearing. Results showed that the strength

of the composite was comparable to that of clay alone at 50 kPa confining stress and

was lower at higher confining stresses. Permeability of the clay was not changed by the

inclusion of tire buffings.