How Recycled Tires Can Put an End to Potholes Forever!

recycled tires in concrete
recycled tires in concrete

Concrete and asphalt are the main materials that are used to pave the roads that paint our landscapes throughout the globe and connect us to one another. Every driver, bus dweller, and sidewalk trekker knows that where there are paved pathways, there are potholes.

Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE

Giatec SR demo kit_
Giatec SR demo kit_

What Are Potholes?

Technically speaking, potholes are structural failures in a road surface caused primarily by the presence of water in the underlying soil as well as the wear from passing traffic. These defects can damage a tire or a wheel and lead to very serious accidents.

In Ottawa, Ontario alone, hundreds of pothole claims are made each year. With each claim comes the demand for repair, and with repair demands comes the need for adequate resources.

Dr. Bonaso of Mechanical Concrete has recently come out with a new method for tackling the neverending pothole problem. He came up with his innovative idea after spending his entire life enveloped in civil engineering, construction, and business development as well as serving as a State Secretary of Transportation. After receiving a bunch of scrap tires from the Legislature, he looked at them as an opportunity.

Why couldn’t you just bury the tires in the road?

Engineers were quick to reply that you cannot bury them because they will inevitably retain water. And so his four years of trying to figure out how to rid of both problems began.

Bonaso developed the idea and received a patent for it in 2008, after following through with the traditional technology development stages. These stages are that of first modeling, followed by field testing, lab testing and then implementing three full-scale demonstration projects.

Solution: The Pothole Terminator

Dubbed the “Pothole Terminator”, the method involves taking crushed stone and putting it within a thin-walled cylinder (in this case, an old tire with its sidewalls removed and then covered up). Once the aggregates are confined within the tire, it’s solid–moisture will not be able to enter. You can then pour concrete or asphalt over the tired once installed.

Once installation is complete, the area acts as a structural drain, allowing water to run through it without causing damage. This, in turn, prevents ground and surface water from penetrating or damaging a roadway base. No more potholes!

Not only is the Pothole Terminator a cost-efficient solution to the pothole dilemma, state its inventors, but it’s also friendly to the environment. Scrap tires will no longer pile up in landfills as useless wastes of space. Now we can re-use them while simultaneously improving the durability of our roads.

3 Responses

    1. Hi Joseph, unfortunately, this is a research article written for educational purposes and and is not in our area of expertise. We appreciate your interest in Giatec and are sorry we are not able to help you in finding further information regarding the use of recycled tires.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

concrete_blogs

5 Concrete Blogs You Should Check Out in 2023

As the concrete industry keeps growing, so does the number of sites that offer quality and educational content. The topics range from tips and techniques to sustainability in the industry. So, let’s check a compilation of the best five concrete blogs you should be on the lookout for this year.

SmartRock3

New Generation Technology Part 2: the LoRa SmartRock™ and its Applications

Every concrete professional aims to perform critical operations faster and with the highest possible quality. Remote monitoring systems such as the SmartHub™ – Long Range developed by Giatec are valuable tools for this need. Following the first part of the SmartHub series Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE Free Demo Kit , this blog will delve into the applications of the SmartRock™ – Long Range. Fully Embedded Wireless SystemsThe proliferation of wireless sensory technology has been incredibly helpful in harnessing vital information from structural…

Claim Your Free Demo Kit

Get Your First SmartRock Concrete Sensor for FREE

Get Real-Time Data with SmartRock®

See how it works today

We use cookies to provide you with a better experience, analyze site traffic and assist in our marketing efforts. By continuing to use this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy Page.