Expanded Polystyrene Geofoam Based Cellular Reinforcement

Abstract This paper reports the effectiveness of proposed expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam cellular reinforcement with fly ash as filling material overlying a soft clay bed through small-scale laboratory model tests. The test beds were subjected to uniformly distributed load by means of a rigid steel plate. Loads with corresponding settlement were measured during the testing. EPS geofoam cellular reinforcement of densities 15, 20, 22, and 30 kg/m3 were prepared in the form of a mattress with three different heights of 50, 75, and 100 mm. The effects of density of EPS geofoam, height of cellular reinforcement, and the planar jute geotextile layer at the base of cellular reinforcement were tested through a series of tests to systematically study the overall performance of the system in terms of load carrying capacity and settlement behavior. Test results indicated that the provision of EPS geofoam cellular reinforcement in fly ash bed significantly improved load carrying capacity above the clay bed. The load carrying capacity decreased with increasing density of EPS geofoam and increased with increase in height of cellular reinforcement. A layer of jute geotextile placed at the base of cellular reinforcement further enhanced load carrying capacity for less height of cellular reinforcement. However, the effect of planer reinforcement was decreased with the increase in height of cellular reinforcement.