Efficiency of Geocell Reinforcement for Using in Expanded Polystyrene Embankments via Numerical Analysis

Authors: S. N. Moghaddas Tafreshi, S. M. Amin Ghotbi

Abstract:

This paper presents a numerical study for investigating the effectiveness of geocell reinforcement in reducing pressure and settlement over EPS geofoam blocks in road embankments. A 3-D FEM model of soil and geofoam was created in ABAQUS, and geocell was also modeled realistically using membrane elements. The accuracy of the model was tested by comparing its results with previous works. Sensitivity analyses showed that reinforcing the soil cover with geocell has a significant influence on the reduction of imposed stresses over geofoam and consequently decreasing its deformation.

Keywords: EPS geofoam, road embankments, geocell, reinforcement, lightweight fill.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1132050

References:

[1] Stark, T. D., Bartlett, S. F., Arellano, D., "Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Geofoam Applications and Technical Data," The EPS Industry Alliance, 2012.
[2] Stark, T. D., Arellano, D., Horvath, J. S., and Leshchinsky, D., "NCHRP Web Document 65 (Project 24-11): Geofoam Applications in the Design and Construction of Highway Embankments," Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2004.
[3] Stark, T. D., Arellano, D., Horvath, J. S., and Leshchinsky, D., "NCHRP Report 529: Guideline and Recommended Standard for Geofoam Applications in Highway Embankments," Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2004.
[4] Zou, Y., Small, J. C. and Leo, C. J., "Behavior of EPS Geofoam as Flexible Pavement Subgrade Material in Model Tests," Geosynthetics International, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 1-22, 2000.
[5] Newman, M. P., Bartlett, S. F. and Lawton, E. C., "Numerical Modeling of Geofoam Embankments," J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., vol. 136, pp. 290-298, 2010.
[6] Brito, L. A. T., Dawson, A. R. and Kolisoja, P. J., "Analytical Evaluation of Unbound Granular Layers in Regard to Permanent Deformation," in Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields. 8th International Conference, 2009.
[7] Leshchinsky, B. and Ling, H. I., "Numerical modeling of behavior of railway ballasted structure with geocell confinement," Geotextiles and Geomembranes, vol. 36, pp. 33-43, 2013.
[8] Moghaddas Tafreshi, S. N., Khalaj, O. and Dawson, A. R., "Pilot-scale load tests of a combined multilayered geocell and rubber-reinforced foundation," Geosynthetics International, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 143-161, 2013.
[9] Lal B. R. R., Padade, A. H. and Mandal, J. N., "Numerical Simulation of EPS Geofoam as Compressible Inclusions in Fly Ash Backfill Retaining Walls," in Geo-Shanghai 2014, Shanghai, China, 2014.