ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF EPS-GEOFOAM EMBANKMENTS FOR SEISMIC LOADING

The use of block-molded expanded polystyrene (EPS-block) geofoam as a lightweight-fill material for highway embankments is a relatively mature geotechnology with more than 30 years history of successful application worldwide. Basic analysis and design procedures are now well established and documented, and current research and development efforts are focused on making incremental improvements. One such area of improvement related to analysis and design for seismic loading. The recent construction of several EPS-geofoam highway embankments on the Central Artery/Tunnel (CA/T) Project in Boston, well known as the 'Big Dig', resulted in an opportunity to advance the state of practice for EPS-geofoam embankments subjected to seismic loading. In particular, a newly recognized behavioral mode referred to as seismic rocking was identified and found to govern the design of these fills for internal stability. This behavioral mode is described in this paper in the context of summarizing the current state of knowledge with respect to seismic analysis and design of EPS embankments.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0784407444
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  Geo Institute, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Riad, H L
  • Horvath, J S
• Conference:
  • Geotechnical Engineering for Transportation Projects, Geo-Trans 2004
  • Location: Los Angeles, California
  • Date: 2004-7-27 to 2004-7-31
• Publication Date: 2004

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 10 p.
• Serial:
  • ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication
  • Issue Number: 126
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Blocking; Design; Embankments; Fillers (Materials); Geotechnical engineering; Highways; Improvements; Load factor; Seismic prospecting; State of the practice; Tunnels
• Geographic Terms: Boston (Massachusetts)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00988669
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0784407444
• Report/Paper Numbers: Volume II
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 18 2005 12:00AM