Throughout the development of the Tire Log the goal has been to design the Tire Log so that it could be employed using standard construction procedures and equipment. This goal was achieved and the ability to construct the retaining wall was demonstrated, using standard building practices, materials and equipment. Unlike comparable wooden timbers no special care was needed to prevent warping, cracking or breaking of the Tire Logs during the storage or handling of them. The Tire Logs were subjected to dragging, dropping, bending, and other extreme “field testing” abuses that would have cracked or broken conventional building materials such as wood or concrete. The construction was performed by Interns from the University of Buffalo’s Engineering program that had limited construction experience under the supervision of RTP personnel. The retaining wall was constructed using 8” high by 14” wide Tire Logs cut to 8’ and 4’ long lengths using conventional building practices, hardware, and equipment. The original plan to construct a 20’ long and 6’ high retaining wall (See drawing.) was expanded by adding 12’ long tiered wing walls to each end of the wall. Wing walls are commonly used in the construction of sea walls to prevent erosion from around the ends of a seawall.   Conventional wood framing was also applied to the face of the wall as well as to the top of the wall so that siding and decking could be added for both aesthetic and functional purposes and to further demonstrate the multitude of possible applications for this versatile building material. A stairway made of Tire Log treads that lead up to the top of the wall was also added.  The retaining wall was monitored and photographed throughout the project for any movement, deformities, or structural problems and then disassembled for further inspection. No tensile or flexural creep of the wall or of individual Tire Logs or any other negative results were observed.  | |
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