Breakage mitigation method for culverts under high embankments using EPS Geofoam

Abstract

Many culverts under high embankments were destroyed for the high earth pressure, one effective method is reducing the load on culvert. To reduce high earth pressure and play the role of shear strength of soil, flexible material EPS (Expanded polystyrene) geofoam slab was placed on the top and sides of culvert. Results of get from site test indicate that EPS has great effect in reducing vertical and lateral pressure on culvert. The minimum pressure after load reduction only take on 30 percent of soil column weight on the top and 10 percent at the lateral. EPS also can decrease uneven longitudinal settlement of culverts. The results obtained by FEM proved the test results in situ. Using the reduced earth pressure to redesign the culvert can reduce the size of the culvert, avoid destroy of culvert and save the construction cost efficiently. © 2008 Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg Geotechnical Engineering for Disaster Mitigation and Rehabilitation.