Testing and Evaluation of Used Automobile Tires and Recycled Tire-Derived Materials for Low-Cost Crash Cushions
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 17, Issue 1
Abstract
Approximately 30% of all vehicle related fatalities that occur each year are caused by a single vehicle leaving the road and striking a fixed object; the most common objects struck being trees, guardrails, and utility poles. In many cases, current crash cushion systems are too expensive to be installed on such hazards and may also require recurring maintenance. This makes the development of a less expensive crash cushion a necessity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the material properties of used tires and recycled tire-derived materials (TDMs) for use in low-cost, reusable crash cushions. The used tires and TDMs were tested statically and dynamically to evaluate their suitability as crash cushion materials. The test specimens were able to sustain high loads and proved to be durable, making them good candidates for use in a crash cushion.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this study has been provided by the Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). The writers wish to acknowledge the invaluable guidance and insight provided by Dr. Dean Sicking of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. The writers also thank John Steele and Larry Cheek of KDOT for their time and efforts in helping with the static tests, and Don Bruns of Kansas State University for helping with the dynamic tests.
References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 17 • Issue 1 • February 2005
Pages: 36 - 44
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 28, 2001
Accepted: Feb 2, 2004
Published online: Feb 1, 2005
Published in print: Feb 2005
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Tinh Nguyen
Authors
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