• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.35-44
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• 2015

The resilient modulus model of EPS geofoam to be used for a flexible pavement design was developed. In this study, the model was applied to design the flexible pavement and to predict the magnitude of the deformation of EPS geofoam blocks as a subgrade in the flexible pavement structure by using the resilient modulus model of EPS geofoam (RMEG) program. The RMEG program presented how much the EPS geofoam subgrade settled over the designed duration and the AASHTO flexible pavement design equation with the resilient modulus of EPS geofoam noted that how long the flexible pavement endured under traffic loads with 70% reliability for the estimated duration with less than 5mm vertical deformation during 20.6 years without the significant pavement distress as a substitute material for the natural soils.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.475-488
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• 2020

The recent increase in the use of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) geofoam in construction and geotechnical projects has driven researchers to investigate its behavior, more deeply. In this paper, a series of experimental tests to investigate the stress-strain behavior and the mechanical properties of EPS blocks, under monotonic axial loading are presented. Four different densities of cylindrically shaped EPS with different dimensions are used to investigate the effects of loading rate, height and diameter, as well as the influence of the density of EPS on the stress-strain response. The results show that increasing the height of the EPS samples leads to instability of the sample and consequent lower resistance to the applied pressure. Large EPS samples show higher Young's modulus and compressive resistance due to some boundary effects. An increase in the rate of loading can increase the elastic moduli and compressive resistance of the EPS geofoam samples, which also varies depending on the density of the samples. It was also determined that the elastic modulus of EPS increases with increasing EPS density. By implementing an efficient numerical procedure, the stress-strain response of EPS geofoam samples can be reproduced with great accuracy. The numerical analysis based on the proposed method can used to evaluate the effect of different factors on the behavior of EPS geofoam.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.24-30
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• 2018

As the demand for underground space increases, many researchers have been studying the load reduction method using high compressible materials to solve for the stability problem of the overhead load and for the increase of the earth pressure which decreases the function of the underground structure. This paper determines the optimum soft zone and the effect of the using EPS Geofoam as a load reduction material to arch structures. A finite element analysis program, ABAQUS, is used to analyze the soil-structure interaction and the behavior of buried arch structures considering different four EPS Geofoam forms to confirm the most conservative shape. The optimum cross-sectional shape was determined by comparing the results of earth pressure reduction rate in accordance with the change of span-rise ratio and span length of the arch structure. It was confirmed that the earth pressure generated in the arch structure using the optimal soft zone selected by the numerical analysis was reduced by an average of 78%. In this study, the effect of EPS Geofoam on soil pressure reduction and its applicability to underground arch structures will provide an economical and conservative way to design underground structures and will help to increase the usability of deep underground space.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.63-70
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• 2011

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is a type of geosynthetic material manufactured with various strengths, unit weights, and dimensions. Due to recent advances in research on EPS, the use of EPS has increased dramatically. This super light weight material has a unit weight of approximately $0.16{\sim}0.47kN/m^3$, equivalent to 6.3~15.7 of that of most natural soils with conditions of fill materials. In spite of this advantage, it is noted that no standard method of resilient modulus test on EPS geofoam was reported and no literature on resilient modulus test methods for EPS geofoam exist. The main object of this study was to investigate feasibility of the resilient modulus of EPS when it was applied for flexible pavement. The investigation of the feasibility was completed based on the results from triaxial tests.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.61-68
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• 2012

The main objective of this study is to develop an analytical model for the resilient modulus of EPS geofoam when it is applied for flexible pavement as a subgrade material. This analytical model has been developed based on the results from triaxial compression tests. And this model can be used to analyze the flexible pavement structure using the finite element method by developing a program or modifying an existing program for any desired purposes. The results of this study show that the EPS geofoam as a replacement material for subgrade in flexible pavement is a feasible alternative to natural weak soils.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.553-562
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• 2008

A remediation technique for buried pipeline system subject to permanent ground deformation is proposed. Specifically, EPS (expanded polystyrene) geofoam blocks are used as low density backfill, thereby reducing soil restraint and pipeline strains. In order to evaluate this remediation technique, a series of 12 centrifuge model tests with HDPE pipe were performed. The amount or spatial extent of the low density backfill was varied, as well as the orientation of the pipe with respect to the fault offset. Specifically, in the $-63.5^{\circ}$ test, the orientation was such that the pipe was placed in flexure and axial tension. The $-85^{\circ}$ orientation placed the pipe mainly in flexure. In all cases, the behavior of the remediated pipe was compared to that for the unremediated pipe. The geofoam backfill was successful in improving pipe behavior for two of the three pipe/fault orientations. However, for the $60^{\circ}$ orientation, the pipe buckled in compression irrespective of the geofoam backfill.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.5-14
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• 2002

In this study, stress-deformation characteristics of buried pipe are studied. A numerical model, i.e., Egg-Cam Clay is introduced for the analysis of soft clay. Cam Clay model has a difficulty in analyzing soft clay that has two properties of shrinkage and swelling. Egg-Cam Clay model is modified format of Cam Clay model. In addition, Mohr-Coulomb model using finite element method is employed to verify effects of the geogrid, EPS geofoam. Stress deformation of several cases of pipe and other reinforcemnt material combinations are analyzed. Geofoam and geogrid have positive effects on the deformation characteristics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture Conference
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• 2021.10a
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• pp.115-116
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• 2021

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.57-65
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• 2010

The main objective of this study is to investigate the time-dependent deformation of EPS blocks under repeated loading conditions which is the one of the flexible pavement structure. The study comprised of both the experimental work and analytical modeling in order to understand the behavior of EPS blocks under repeated loading. The analytical modeling included the selection of a suitable model for describing the deformation behavior observed under repeated loading conditions, investigating the relationship among the unit weight, deformation and applied stress, analyzing the effect of repeated load on deformation. The test results were compared with the Findley's theory and model analysis with the results of this research under repeated loading conditions. Both Modified Findley's model and the proposed model can be adopted to illustrate the deformation behavior of EPS blocks under repeated loads.