Effect of Expanded Polystyrene Particle Size on Engineering Properties of Clayey Soil

Chuanyang Liang,Yuedong Wu,Yuanzhuo Song,Huiguo Wu,Hui Liu,Jian Liu,Dashuo Chen,Yi Zhang

doi:10.1155/2021/9951915

Chuanyang Liang, Yuedong Wu + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9951915

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Abstract

The particle size of expanded polystyrene (EPS) has an effect on engineering properties of EPS-clay blends. However, the effect of differences between EPS particle size groups subdivided within 1–3 mm on engineering properties is usually ignored. In this study, different particle sizes of EPS pellets have been considered to separately investigate the effect on the optimum water content (OWC), maximum dry density (MDD), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), ductility, coefficient of permeability, and compression index of EPS-clay blends. Results show that the MDD, ductility, hydraulic conductivity, and compression index of EPS-clay blends do not increase with the increase in the EPS particle size in the range of 0.3–3 mm, while the OWC and UCS do not decrease. For a given EPS content, among samples with the EPS particle size of 0.3–1 mm, 1-2 mm, and 2-3 mm, the MDD and UCS of EPS-clay blends with 1-2 mm in EPS particle size are the largest, while the OWC, ductility, coefficient of permeability, and compression index are the smallest. Microstructure analyses reveal that, for samples with the EPS particle size of 1-2 mm, the pore volume is lower and the microstructure is denser, which are the main reasons why the EPS particle size can influence engineering properties of EPS-clay blends.

Highlights

Due to the excessive weight of the filling soil or the insufficient bearing capacity of the foundation, the uneven settlement of the soft foundation and the instability of the retaining wall are prone to occur in the engineering construction [1,2,3]
Until the beginning of the Advances in Civil Engineering twenty-first century, the production technology of the lightweight soil was introduced into China and has been gained a lot of research studies on the light-weight soil made of Expanded polystyrene (EPS) [20, 21]
With the increase in water content, the dry density of EPS-clay blends with different EPS particle sizes increases first and decreases. ere is a peak on the proctor compaction curve, which is similar to a parabola. is indicates that the optimum water content (OWC) and maximum dry density (MDD) of EPS-clay blends with different EPS particle sizes can be obtained by the compaction test

Summary

Introduction

Due to the excessive weight of the filling soil or the insufficient bearing capacity of the foundation, the uneven settlement of the soft foundation and the instability of the retaining wall are prone to occur in the engineering construction [1,2,3]. Applying the light-weight soil as the filling soil is a new method, which can decrease the stress level in the soft foundation by reducing the weight of the filling soil [8,9,10]. E light-weight soil which is made with renewable resources, such as the plastic foam, reduces the weight of filling soil and solves the pollution of plastic waste [11]. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a kind of plastic foam and has many properties, such as light weight, pressure resistance, durability, and thermal insulation, which can be used to produce light-weight soil and widely applied in the engineering construction [12,13,14]. Until the beginning of the Advances in Civil Engineering twenty-first century, the production technology of the lightweight soil was introduced into China and has been gained a lot of research studies on the light-weight soil made of EPS [20, 21]

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Results

Conclusion