Abstract: The influence of the dimensions of shredded tire chips on the shear strength and volumetric strain characteristics of shredded tireloess soil mixtures were studied throughout the largescale directshear tests. The shear strength and volumetric strain parameters were affected by the mixture content and dimensions of the shredded tire, density of the tested samples and the magnitude of the applied normal stress. The experimental test results indicated that the frictional properties at the contact surface among the shredded tire chips were improved by the loess soils and the properties of the mixtures were enhanced. It is concluded that the engineering properties of loess soils can be improved by adding the shredded tire chips.

Key words: geotechnical engineering, shredded tire chips, mixture contents, volumetric strain