A study on the potential utilization of crumb rubber in cement treated soft clay

•Waste rubber tire was incorporated in cement-stabilized clay.•Aim was to utilize the waste crumb rubber for improving the geotechnical properties of clay.•Inclusion of crumb rubber in cemented clay reduced the UCS and STS but prosperously able to overcome the brittleness of cemented clay.•Reduction in unit weight, CBR value, compression index and swelling pressure was also noticed with the incorporation of rubber in cement-stabilized clay.•Waste crumb rubber may be included upto 5% in the cement-stabilized clayey soils.

The present study investigates the geotechnical characteristics of cemented clay-crumb rubber mixture through a series of compaction, UCS, STS, CBR, one-dimensional consolidation and swelling pressure tests. Crumb rubber (0.8-2 mm size) and cement content in the mixtures were 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%, and 0%, 3%, and 6% by the dry weight of the specimens, respectively. The results of experimental research indicated that incorporation of crumb rubber in cemented clayey soil decreases the UCS and STS but prosperously able to overcome the brittleness of cemented clay in compression and tension. The CBR values of the composite having 6% cement were found to be propitious for its use as road sub-base with light traffic. It was also noticed that crumb rubber helps in reducing the swelling pressure and compression index of the mixes, which make it is a good candidate for lightweight fill material behind the retaining walls and embankment construction. Incorporation of crumb rubber in uncemented and cement clayey soil potentially reduces the reinforcement cost and deteriorating impact of waste tire disposal on the environment.