Faisabilité du renforcement d'assises routières à l'aide de pneus usagés

ABSTRACT The paper deals with a new process of road base reinforcement, based upon two beds of used half-tyres, shifted from each other. As in continuous reinforced concrete pavement, shrinkage-induced crack opening should be controlled by the tyres. The principle of this innovative process is described, and analytical cracking calculations are presented, with several hypotheses concerning the type of hydraulic material and the behaviour of the interface between tyres and road-base material. Based upon these calculations, the process appears to be feasible. Tests and deeper theoretical calculations will be necessary in the future. In case of success, the question of industrial process also will have to be addressed.