CBR Properties of Sand Mixed with Modified Waste Expanded Polystyrene Foams (EPS)

Author: Barham H. Ali^1
1Civil Engineering Department,Faculty of Engineering, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq

Abstract:  The impact of using recycled waste expanded polystyrene foams (EPS), as a lightweight fill material by mixing with river sand were presented in this study. The waste EPS were thermally modified. The modified expanded polystyrene (MEPS) were gained by putting the waste EPS into an oven at 130°C for 15 minutes. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values of sand mixed with MEPS was studied. To conduct the test, five series of specimens were prepared that have a replacement of MEPS by weight which were 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. For each ratio CBR test were conducted. Unsoaked condition was used to perform the tests. By increasing the percentage of MEPS the values of CBR of the mixture were decreased. However, the minimum CBR value at 20% MEPS is still within subbase tolerance. Results of the tests demonstrate that addition of 20 % MEPS in sand makes the reduction of the density of mixture almost 50 %. MEPS can be an alternative light weight fill material for geotechnical application such as embankment of abutments.

Keywords: River Sand, Lightweight Fill, Geofoam (EPS), Unit Weight, Recycling Waste, California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
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doi: 10.23918/eajse.v4i4p58

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