Investigation of the I88 Carrs Creek Geofoam Failure

The Interstate 88 (I88) culvert crossing of Carrs Creek in Sidney, New York collapsed during the record setting Mid-Atlantic States Flood of June 2006. Rapid construction with geofoam as lightweight fill enabled partial reopening of I88 by Labor Day 2006. Shortly after reopening of the roadway, rapid settlements developed. The geofoam fill was removed and I88 was re‐built using lightweight aggregates. An investigation of the rapid construction failure was completed in 2009. This report examines the failure of the re‐construction and the results of the subsequent investigation. Alternative causes for the failure have been identified based on previous observations, lab tests and computer models. Suggestions for improving rapid construction practice with geofoam are provided.

• Record URL:
  http://www.utrc2.org/sites/default/files/pubs/Final-Carrs-Creek-Geofam_0.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program. Cover title: Investigation of the Carrs Creek Geofoam Project.
• Corporate Authors:

  Syracuse University

  Geofoam Research Center
  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 151 Link Hall
  Syracuse, NY  United States  13244-1240

  University Transportation Research Center

  City College of New York
  Marshak Hall, Suite 910, 160 Convent Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10031

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Negussey, Dawit
  • Birhan, Amsalu
  • Liu, Chen
  • Singh, Stephen
  • Andrews, Luke
• Publication Date: 2014-8-20

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 58p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer models; Construction; Culverts; Failure analysis; Laboratory tests; Polystyrene; Reconstruction; Settlement (Structures)
• Geographic Terms: New York (State)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Materials; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw; I30: Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01536617
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: 49997‐48‐24
• Files: UTC, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 2 2014 9:09AM