Geo foams in geo technical applications

GEO FOAMS

Submitted By T. Saidulu

135T1A0146

INTRODUCTION As per ASTM D 4439, the Geofoam can be defined as

block or planar rigid cellular foamed polymeric used in geotechnical engineering applications.

In textile term, the geofoam is called as Expended Polystyrene (EPS) or Extruded Polystyrene (XPS).

The geofoam is a cellular plastic material. We say it a thermocal used for packaging the electronic goods, making cup container to drink coffee or tea and others.

The geofoam is a super light material which is available in the form of blocks or cellular honeycomb form. It provides easy of handling. It is an emerging geomaterial

Size of block-molded geofoam is about 600 mm x 1200 mm x 2400 mm. The block size can vary from country to country. The other minimized sizes can be made by cutting and trimming at site.

Weight of the block varies from 11 kg/m3 to 40 kg/m3. Its density is very less (about 100 times less) compared to the conventional fill materials in geotechnical engineering.

Geofoams have been used in many structures around the world for the last forty-five years.

The life time of geofoam is about 70 to 100 years.

GEOSYNTHETICS FOR GEOFOAM STRUCTURES

GEOFOAM RETAINING WALL

FULL SIZE EPS BLOCK IN TEMPORARY STORAGE AFTER MOULDING

GEOFOAM MANUFACTURING PROCESS

APPLICATIONS

Geofoam can effectively be used in various engineering applications,

Embankment and Pavements, Tunnels and buried pipesRetaining walls and abutments, TunnelsRoad widening, Clay Liners Railways, Flood Control LeveesFoundationParkingSide-hill fill, Clay Heave ProtectionLandscape Sound barriersDike/ Berms Landfills, andBelow ground walls of structures Gas Venting

GEOFOAM AS AN ALTERNATIVE BACKFILL MATERIAL BEHIND RETAINING WALL

In conventional method, good quality granular materials are used as backfill behind retaining structures. Sometimes the materials are scarce.The inclusion of geofoam reduces the lateral earth pressure dramatically.

GEOFOAM AS AN ALTERNATIVE FILLING MATERIAL FOR EMBANKMENT

PLACEMENT OF GEOFOAM AS BACKFILL MATERIAL BEHIND REINFORCED CONCRETE RETAINING WALL

PLACEMENT OF GEOFOAM AS DRAINAGE BEHIND REINFORCED CONCRETE RETAINING WALL

GEOFOAM AS COMPRESSIBLE INCLUSION WITH REINFORCEMENTS BEHIND REINFORCED CONCRETE RETAINING WALL

Application of Geofoam behind bridgeabutment (after Stark et al., 2004)

Geofoam application in retaining wall forextension of existing pavement

Geofoam as filling material beneath the pavement

Embankment made of geofoam as filling material

Geofoam beneath the slabs or beams atfoundation (After Frydenlund et al., 1987)

Slope side fills of geofoam

Geofoam application in hilly terrain

Different density geofoam used for road construction

Geofoam beneath the bridge abutment (After Frydenlund and Aabфe, 1996

Geofoam above canal

Geofoam as compressible inclusionbeneath a grade beam or structural slab

Bridge Ramp Construction With Geofoam

Geofoam – Check After 25 Years In ServiceNo deformationNo damage