Retaining walls
Whole end-of-life tyres have many applications in road infrastructures. Retaining walls are just one of the applications that have been developed since the 1980s.
The tyres from heavy goods vehicles, solidly attached to each other by means of a technique developed by Ponts et Chaussées engineers, are then filled with earth and built into a wall. This technique makes use of both the flexibility and the resistance of tyres. The wall is eventually totally covered by vegetation.
The heavy goods vehicle used tyres here have one of their sides removed, then they are put into position horizontally and longitudinally. In this way, the tyres act as a siding and are filled with earth. Depending on the application (Pneutex or Pneusol®), layers of geotextile or welded mesh are placed horizontally to strengthen the layers of tyres. Generally, Pneusol® is used when the slope of the construction is steeper – up to 75°.
An association of partially cut up tyres (removal of one side) or fully cut-up tyres (two sides and the tread) and earth. The tyre elements are used to reinforce the mass of earth brought in. The treads or tyres are cut up and associated in layers by means of attachments. These layers can be put into position as they are or flattened. When the sides are used, they are placed in a flat position. This technique has been widely used since 1982: several hundred structures have been built both in France and abroad.
- Retaining walls / constraint distributor
- Tyres laid flat in horizontal layers and put into place
- Adaptable flexibility which makes it possible to bear significant differential settlement
- Better effort distribution in the mass of materials and on the foundations
- Simple and economical to install
Whole heavy goods vehicle tyres are placed in layers. Only the volume corresponding to the hubcap is filled with earth. The specific weight of the light PNEUSOL varies between 6 and 8 kN.m-3, and depends on the interspersed earth layer.
The main applications concern lightweight embankments, works that absorb energy and works that distribute constraints.
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