Using shredded waste tires as a lightweight fill material for road subgrades : summary report

662808PDFResearch PaperMN/RD-94/10Waste productsTiresShreddingSubgrade (Pavements)Pavement designPavingPavement performanceEnvironmental impactsMaterialsLightweight materialsMinnesotaMinnesota. Dept. of TransportationEngstrom, Glenn M.Lamb, RichNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATIONNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-MaterialsNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Pavement Management and PerformanceNTL-ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT-Environment ImpactsUS Transportation CollectionWaste tires have been a disposal problem in the past and are continuing to accumulate throughout the U.S. today. Using shredded waste tires as a lightweight fill material for road construction has proven to be a beneficial use of this waste product. Shredded tires have been used as a lightweight fill material in Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Minnesota began using shredded tires as a lightweight fill material in 1985 on logging roads through areas with weak soils. This report documents seven sites in Minnesota that used shredded waste tires as lightweight fill. Shredded tires were proven to be a viable form of lightweight fill because they are relatively lightweight, inexpensive and non-biodegradable. In general, the material is very elastic, is very porous, contains good vibration damping properties, and is easily compacted. On the downside, shredded tires lack set design standards and specifications. The report also documents some of the environmental testing completed on shredded tires to date