Waste Tyre Utilization in Civil Engineering Applications - Part 1 of 3

Backgroundand embankments. This material is lightweight, free
Nowadays, the advancement in civil engineeringdraining and compressible with low thermal
stream utilized tyres waste in various applications.conductivity. Shred and chips have similar properties
These applications were exploited due to theand are also finding use in civil engineering, from base
awareness and implementation of strict legislationmaterials to insulation. Granulate is commonly seen on
issued. The focus is particularly on applications thatplaygrounds and sports surfaces. There is also a
are technically beneficial and efficacy, economicallyrange of powders available which have varied
viable and environmentally sound. The benefit ofapplications from carbon black substitutes to reclaim.
using waste tyres in civil engineering works is wasteEnergy recovery considered of tyres is now used as
tyre can provide advantages over traditionala supplementary non-fossil fuel.
aggregates. Exploited to be primary materials, it is anBy reason of various criterions available in the
effective alternative outlet to reduce environmentalmarket, a standard of size has been developed as a
burden on extraction. In recent years, the studies arereference guide in European industries system for
going aggressively in utilizing the tyres as buildingmaterial produced from waste tyres. The terminology
materials. The current civil engineering practices haveused for different size fractions are:
developed lots of method and solution in contributing(1) Powder,
to environmental protection.(2) Granules - 1mm to 10mm,
Characteristics of Waste Tyres(3) Buffing - 0 to 40mm,
Tyres have greater potential to compete with(4) Chips - 10mm to 50mm,
conventional material in engineering industries and in(5) Shreds (small) - 40mm to 75mm,
certain conditions it preferred as an eminence options.(6) Shreds (large) - 75mm to 300mm,
Tyres may be suitable as an option due to certain(7) Cut - 300mm to half-tyre,
factors such as below:(8) Whole tyre, and
- Tyres are relatively abundant(9) Tyre bales.
- Requirement to used lightweight material as fillingOverview of Waste Tyres in Civil Engineering
- Requirement for flexible and durable material in longApplications
termIt is recently, the stir of utilizing rubber derived from
- Prerequisite to have material that high resistance towaste tyre in mass concrete as replacement of
chemical activity, water and sound proof and thermalportions of aggregates. However, the idea was
insulation.anticipated more than a decade ago by pioneers
Waste tyres have lots of characteristics that makeresearcher where among them are Eldin and Senouci
them problematic waste. Ironically, these(1993), Topçu (1995) and Khatib and Bayomy
characteristics also made them valuable sources in(1999). Other than that, waste tyre derivative are
civil engineering practice. These include beingwidely used in pavement construction and flooring,
lightweight, durable, inert and have excellent thermallightweight material, and as energy fuel. The viability
insulation. The physical and chemical properties ofof utilization tyre derived products in many
tyres or their derivative determine whether or notengineering works has support and encourages
they will be suitable for a particular application. Thesefurther exploitation in related field thus enhanced the
characteristics also permit determination of the mostexisting method.
appropriate category of used tyre or derivative forIn the follow-up article, I will elaborate more on
each proposed application.waste tyre applications in specific civil engineering
They are then particularly suitable for use in civilfields such as in building materials, pavement, and
engineering applications such as noise barriers, reefsdrainage.