Reduction Heave of Swelling Soil under Isolated Footing with Flat and Ribbed Geofoam

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Civil Engineering Department. Bilbis Higher Institute for Engineering, Bilbis, Ash-Sharqia, Egypt.

Abstract

Swelling soils are considered highly problematic soil due to the volume change actions. The cyclic heave and settlement of expansive soils could be the main reason for considerable damages to the structures, roads, and highways. Many available methodologies are followed to combat these problems of the swelling soils. This study presents the results of experimental and numerical research for effect of geofoam under footing rested on the swelling soil as a new technique for controlling the upward movement of structures over the swelling soils. Geofoam blocks are made of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS). It has lightweight, low price, and widely found in Egypt. It can be produced in many shapes and densities. The geofoam layer has two cross-sections; flat and ribbed. Different densities and thicknesses of geofoam are considered in the study. There is a marked reduction in the case of the flat and ribbed geofoam layer with density 20kg/m3 and thickness 2 cm. The swelling soil was modeled by the finite element method ADINA software. Modeling of two cases; flat and ribbed cross-sections is performed by the critical state model with different densities and thicknesses of geofoam.

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