Experimental model study on traffic loading induced earth pressure reduction using EPS geofoam

This paper presents results of 1-g experimental studies on the use of EPS geofoam to mitigate traffic loading induced earth pressure. Traffic loading was applied as combination of sustained static and cyclic loading using haversine waves for 10,000 cycles at 1Hz frequency. Two different intensities, i) sustained static load of 30 kPa followed by cyclic load of 20 kPa and ii) sustained static load of 20 kPa followed by cyclic load of 50 kPa were applied. A load distribution system was devised and placed at the top centre of the backfill so as to apply 45. uniformly distributed load to backfill using servo hydraulic actuator. Three different densities of EPS geofoam, 10 kg/m(3) (10D), 12 kg/m(3) (12D) and 15 kg/m(3) (15D) were considered during the study, however results of 10D geofoam are discussed in this paper. It was observed that provision of EPS geofoam reduced earth pressures in the range of 39% to almost zero pressure for top half portion of the retaining wall and would be beneficial to reduce traffic loading induced earth pressures.