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Enhancing retaining wall stability with geofoam.
Yeonwook Jeong1,2, Junsuk Kang1,3,4,5,6
1Department of Landscape Architecture and Rural Systems Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Heliyon
|July 23, 2024
Summary
Geofoam effectively reduces earth pressure on retaining walls. Optimal triangular geofoam shapes and reinforcement at the wall base minimize soil pressure, verified by finite element analysis and experiments.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
Background:
- Retaining walls are crucial infrastructure components.
- Earth pressure can compromise retaining wall stability.
- Geofoam offers a lightweight fill alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate geofoam's efficiency in reducing earth pressure on retaining walls.
- Determine the optimal geofoam shape for retaining wall applications.
- Elucidate the mechanism by which geofoam minimizes soil pressure.
Main Methods:
- Finite element (FE) analysis was utilized to model geofoam behavior.
- Geometric parameters of geofoam were evaluated to find optimal shapes.
- FE analysis results were validated against experimental data.
Main Results:
- Triangular geofoam was identified as the most optimized shape.
- Geofoam reinforcement at the retaining wall base consistently reduced soil pressure.
- Soil pressure reduction was independent of geofoam shape when applied at the base.
Conclusions:
- Geofoam is a viable solution for reducing earth pressure on retaining walls.
- The shape of geofoam is a critical factor for optimization.
- Reinforcement strategy, particularly at the base, significantly impacts pressure reduction.
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