The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of usin
g shredded waste tires to reinforce sand. Direct shear tests were cond
ucted on mixtures of dry sand and shredded waste tires. The following
factors were studied to evaluate their influence on shear strength: no
rmal stress, sand matrix unit weight, shred content, shred length, and
shred orientation. From results of the tests, three significant facto
rs affecting shear strength were identified: normal stress, shred cont
ent, and sand matrix unit weight. A model for estimating the strength
of reinforced soils was also evaluated to determine its applicability
to mixtures of sand and tire shreds. When the model is calibrated usin
g results from one shred content, it may be useful for estimating the
friction angle for other shred contents. In all cases, adding shredded
tires increased the shear strength of sand, with an apparent friction
angle (phi') as large as 67 degrees being obtained. Shred content and
sand matrix unit weight were the most significant characteristics of
the mixes influencing shear strength. Increasing either of these varia
bles resulted in an increase in phi'. Tests were also conducted on spe
cimens consisting of only shredded tires (no sand), and the friction a
ngle obtained was 30 degrees.