Role of geofoam inclusions on the liquefaction resilience of transportation geostructures

Lakkimsetti, B and Madhavi Latha, G (2023) Role of geofoam inclusions on the liquefaction resilience of transportation geostructures. In: Transportation Geotechnics, 41 .

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Abstract

Though the effectiveness of geofoam buffers for improving the dynamic load response and seismic performance of road embankments and retaining walls is well-established, their role on soil liquefaction is not investigated by many. This study explores the potential of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) geofoam inclusions for liquefaction mitigation in sands through a series of stress-controlled constant volume cyclic simple shear tests. The study quantifies the increase in liquefaction resistance of sand with geofoam inclusions and reduction in modulus degradation and shear deformations and increase in energy dissipation with loading cycles. Effects of geofoam density and thickness of the layer on the liquefaction response were also investigated through systematic series of experiments with geofoam of three different densities and two different thicknesses. Findings from this experimental study suggest that providing a thick low-density geofoam layer provided the maximum benefit among all the inclusions. Fundamental mechanisms governing this improved response are explored through a series of bender element tests. Results from this study confirm the effectiveness of geofoam buffers in mitigating liquefaction in granular soils and recommend their use in road embankments and retaining walls being constructed in zones of high seismicity to avoid liquefaction and associated lateral spreading failures in these structures.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Transportation Geotechnics
Publisher:	Elsevier Ltd
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords:	Cyclic simple shear test; EPS geofoam; Lateral spreading; Liquefaction; Seismic safety.
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Civil Engineering
Date Deposited:	18 Jul 2023 07:22
Last Modified:	18 Jul 2023 07:22
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/82455

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