ANALYSIS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF UNPAVED ROADS REINFORCED WITH GEOCELLS MADE FROM USED TIRES
Geocells, unpaved roads, reuse of tires
The use of geosynthetics, especially geocells made from used tires, presents an innovative and sustainable solution for reinforcing unpaved roads. This study investigates the mechanical behavior of these roads, focusing on durability, load-bearing capacity, and reduction of deformations.
Geocells, when filled with soil or aggregates, increase pavement rigidity, improving load distribution and reducing subgrade stress. The reuse of discarded tires in the manufacture of these geocells provides an environmentally sound and economical solution.
A series of laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of geocells made from recycled tires. Comparing roads with and without geocell reinforcement, the top road displacement and total stresses on the subgrade under repeated load tests were measured.
Economic analysis revealed that, despite the initial installation cost, long-term benefits such as reduced maintenance and increased durability make this technique economically viable. It is concluded that the use of geocells made from used tires is a promising and sustainable alternative for reinforcing unpaved roads, providing significant economic and environmental benefits.
The results indicate that roads reinforced with geocells have significantly higher load-bearing capacity and lower permanent deformations. The use of these geocells can increase the lifespan of unpaved roads, reduce maintenance costs, and improve the environmental sustainability of transportation infrastructure.