Use of shredded tyre waste in improving the geotechnical properties of expansive black cotton soil

In recent years, geotechnical engineers are using tyre waste to alter the properties of soil for providing sustainable solutions to complex engineering problems. It is noted that black cotton soil, which is expansive in nature, covers a major portion of the Indian sub-continent, such as the Deccan plateau, Malwa plateau and a portion of Gujarat and poses challenging problems to infrastructural development in the region. In the present study, authors have characterised the geotechnical properties of black cotton soil, which is partially replaced with 4.75 mm passing – 2 mm retained (coarse fraction) and 2.0 mm passing - 75 micron retained (fine fraction) shredded tyre waste. The results of the experimental studies clearly show that partial replacement of black cotton soil with shredded tyre waste alters the geotechnical properties favourable to engineering applications and greatly reduces the swelling potential of the black cotton soil. It is noted that instead of fine fraction (2.0–0.075 mm), replacement with coarse fraction (4.75–2.00 mm) of shredded tyre waste can better be used for light weight fill behind the retaining walls as well as for embankment construction as it helps in reducing swelling pressure as well as improving the strength properties.