Laboratory large scale pullout investigation for evaluation performance of ladder geo scrap tire reinforcement.

In recent years, one of the environmental issues for human society has been discarded scrap tires. Environmental sustainability demands a solution to resolve the problem of this undesirable waste material; in addition, recycling scrap tires is another controversial issue. Utilizing scrap tires in either civil or geotechnical activities is increasingly recognized as a topic of interest among researchers. This paper investigates a series of large-scale pullout tests (i.e., 1.4 m × 0.8 m × 0.8 m) to evaluate the performance of the innovative suggested reinforcement of ladder geo scrap tire (LGST). The LGST reinforcement has been compared with double geo scrap tire (DGST), double steel strip (DSS), and double geosynthetic strip (DGS); moreover, it has been validated with theoretical values. The experimental pullout results revealed that LGST for a ratio of S/H = 11(S and H are space and height of transverse members) has the highest pullout resistance and the least interference. LGST with a ratio of S/H = 11 increased pullout resistance by more than 190, 377 and 217% compared to DGST, DSS, and DGS, respectively. Therefore, the use of LGST in addition to opening a new window to solve the problem of scrap tires, leads geotechnical engineers to achieve more economical designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]