Utilization Of Shredded tire-sand mixes as a Cost-Effective Subbase Layer in

reconstruction of an Urban Local Road in Brgy. Dolores, San Fernando

Pampanga

I. INTRODUCTION

Over 50% of the world’s population currently live in urban environments. By 2030
this value is projected to reach 60% and one in every three people will live in cities
with over 500,000 inhabitants (UN 2016). [1] The ever increasing population growth,
urbanization and rising standards of living resulting from technological innovations
have contributed to the increasing quantity of solid wastes generated. The management
of these disposed wastes becomes a major environmental problem in the long term. One
of such solid wastes is tires. Owing to the rise in the number of vehicles being
purchased, many tires end up as waste and if not properly disposed it results to
environmental pollution in major towns and cities globally. [2]

It is estimated that about 1000 million tires are being discarded at the end of their
useful life annually across the globe, and there is need for proper handling in order to
prevent severe ecological hazard. It is also anticipated that this number will increase by
20% by the year 2030, by this estimation the number of waste will be almost 5000
million (including stock piled). The large volume of this waste has made it a material
of research interest. [3]

[Disposal of tires in Philippines]

The local government of Quezon City and Holcim Philippines, Inc. (formerly
Union Cement) forged an agreement to promote the proper disposal of used tires . With
an estimated 200,000 tons of used tires generated in the country every year, the move
was deemed urgent to help reduce mounting environmental problems and health risks
due to improper disposal of tires. Used tires can only be recapped up to three times
before motorists discard them . Currently, there is no system in place to ensure proper
disposal of tires save for a few enterprising junk shop operators who turn them into
rubber plant pots for sale. Eventually, however, virtually all discarded tires find their
way to the dump sites, especially in Payatas, where they commonly become breeding
ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes. The Department of Health noted that tire
stockpiles increase public health risk of infestation with mosquito-carrying-dengue.
Mosquitoes primarily breed in stagnant water that collects inside the tires. [4]

The Philippines has a concrete road network of approximately 13,000 kms. Much
of the new concrete road construction is still carried out without the use of paving
machines, particularly in small work, and this practice often results in a poor ride
quality.

[DPWH in maintenance and rehabilitation of concrete roads in Philippines]

A correctly designed and properly constructed concrete carriageway should

provide a satisfactory service life with limited maintenance. However if such
maintenance is neglected or the techniques are inappropriate, the potential life is
unlikely to be realized. Rehabilitation of the concrete road is generally confined to
simply overlaying roads with thin layers of Hot Mixed Asphalt (HMA). These overlays
are sude to either restore the uneven surface on relatively new pavements or to maintain
more detoriated pavements. In some cases these overlays have been successful,
however it is often the case that the defects in the underlying damaged rigid pavement
layer rapidly cause failures in the new HMA overlay. [5]

[Reason for detoriation of subbase because of cracks in pavement]

Early pavement failures indicates that pavement design should be based on fully
saturated soil strength and active drainage methods should be used to remove free water
from the pavement’s subbase. (Charlie, Wayne A., 1994). Overlying a portland cement
concrete pavement with asphaltic concrete provides a smooth riding surface but hides
the real structural condition. The asphaltic concrete is not impervious, and the water
entering filters down to the subbase and subgrade. This permits to detoriation of the
entire pavement. The water that enters through cracks or joints have no opportunity to
escape. This destroys the ability of the subbase to support because of the infiltration of
fines and detoriates the subgrade. (Gelder, Theodore Van 1994).
 This study proposes to investigate the structural mechanistic performance of using
shredded tire and sand mixture as a substructure layer compared to the conventional
subbase to improve the life-performance and to mitigate the road from futher
detoriation. This study also aims sand-tire mixes as an aggregate that serve as an
economical compared to the natural aggregates.

II. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The study aims to promote a cost-effective substructure layer while providing a
long term performance for the community.

1. To assess the need for reconstruction of the local road in the said area.
2. To investigate the mechanical properties of the shredded tire mixed with
sand compared to the conventional subbase and base coarse materials.
3. To investigate the effect of the sand on the permeability when added with
shredded tires compared to the conventional subbase and base coarse
materials.
4. To evaluate the capital cost if constructed with shredded tire and sand mixes
as a subbase layer compared to the conventional subbase and base coarse
materials.

III. RESEARCH DESIGN

The study uses descriptive approach for the evaluation of the need for
reconstruction of the road in the said area. The study also uses experimental method
and employs the use of mechanistic laboratory test prescribed by the DPWH to
characterize and investigate the physical and mechanical properties of shredded tires
mixed with sand and to the conventional subbase.
 IV. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

ASSESSMENT OF ROAD CONDITION

IDENTIFICATION OF STANDARDS/
SPECIFICATIONS

LABORATORY CHARACTERIZATION FOR TEST

SAMPLES

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS AND EVALUATION

CAPITAL COST ANALYSIS

V. METHODOLOGY
This study will undergo the following tasks to achieve its objectives:

Objective Proposed Activites/Methodology

Task 1: Observe the current situation of the

pavement to be studied.
Objective 1: To assess the need for reconstruction
of the local road in the said area.

Objective 2: To investigate the mechanical
properties of the shredded tire mixed with sand
compared to the conventional subbase and base
coarse materials.
Objective 3: To investigate the effect of the sand
on the permeability when added with shredded
tires compared to the conventional subbase and
base coarse materials.
Objective 3: To evaluate the capital cost if
constructed with shredded tire and sand mixes as
a subbase layer compared to the conventional
subbase and base coarse materials.
Task 2: To evaluate the need for reconstruction of
the road based on the specifications provided by the
Department Order 045 Series of 2006.
Task 1: The sample tire shreds will be cut into
nominal sizes considering the sample size ratio for
the laboratory test preparations.
Task 2: Preparations of sample which includes:
A. Shredded tire and sand Mixes (by volume)
 1:2 (shredded tire-sand mixes)
 1:3 (shredded tire-sand mixes)
 1:4 (shredded tire-sand mixes)
B. Conventional Subbase
 Sand
 Base course (Coarse aggregates)
Task 3: Grain size distribution on the prepared
samples
Task 4: Standard Proctor Compaction for the
prepared samples
Task 5: California Bearing Ratio test on the
compacted samples
Task 6: Confined Vertical Compression Test on
compacted samples
Task 7: Permeability Test on the compacted
samples.
Task 1: Determination of the unit cost of the
materials.
Task 2: Estimate the quantities of materials from
the existing road section.
Task 3: Determination of total capital cost for each
type of subbase layer used.
REFERENCES
[1] Impact of University engagement on environmental resilience of urban spaces in
Asia and Africa (Neil Burnside1; Nickey Janse van Rensberg2; Heriel Moshi3; Kamal
Ketuly4, Sizar Abid Mohammed 4; Nematollah Azizi5; Felipe Ronald Argamosa), July
2018

[2] B.S. Thomas, R.C. Gupta, P. Kalla, L. Cseteneyi Strength, abrasion and permeation
characteristics of cement concrete containing waste rubber fine aggregates Constr.
Build. Mater., 59 (2014), pp. 204-212

[3] S.T. Blessen, C.G. Ramesh, J.P. Vinu “Recycling of waste tire rubber as aggregate
in concrete: durability-related performance” J. Clean. Prod., 112 (2016), pp. 504-513
[4] Philstar Global Corp. Retreved on: May 05,2005
[5] DPWH Department Order 045 S2006
Laboratory Test
1. Grain Size Distribution-Mechanical sieve analysis was used to determine the
grain size distribution of shredded tires, clean sand and shredded tire/sand
blends
2. Standard Proctor Compaction - Maximum Dry density, opt moisture
3. California Bearing Ratio Test - test is used to determine the strength of
granular materials and in situ subgrades of roads.
4. Confined Compression Strength/Stiffness – mean compressive
strength(Mpa)
5. Free Drainage Test/ Permeability Test