Abstract: In this paper, the effect of waste tire reinforcement on soil strength and slope stability is studied by laboratory tests. First of all, the stress-strain relationship and shear strength index of plain sand reinforced by waste tire were studied by consolidation drainage shear triaxial test. Furthermore, the effects of single reinforcement of geocell and composite reinforcement of waste tire and geocell on the stability of embankment slope are compared and analyzed via embankment model test. Results demonstrate that waste tire reinforcement improves the shear resistance of soil obviously, and the more layers of tire reinforcement, the better the deformation resistance and the greater the strength of specimens; the embankment model test shows that composite reinforcement of waste tire and geocell is prior to single reinforcement of geocell as the former significantly reduces the settlement, lateral displacement and additional peak stress of embankment and effectively improves the stability of embankment slope. In addition, the similarities and differences between the mechanism of tire reinforcement and geocell reinforcement are discussed.

Key words: waste tire reinforced soil, plain sand, geocell, embankment stability, triaxial test, model test