Originally posted on CE News online in Progressive Engineering
Geofoam: A lightweight fill alternative
To widen the Pacific Street Bridge over I-680 in Omaha, Neb., Hawkins Construction excavated the soil between the existing abutment wall using EPS geofoam as lightweight backfill for the bridge approach.
Geofoam is a rigid, engineered, lightweight fill material typically made of expanded polystyrene (EPS). For fills, a key advantage of EPS geofoam is its low weight — approximately 1 to 2 percent the weight of soil. Typical densities for EPS fill are between 0.7 and 2.85 pounds per cubic foot, therefore maintaining a predictable compressive strength that is suitable for many structural applications (see “Geofoam physical properties”).
Today, geofoam is fully recognized and accepted as a lightweight fill alternative and has seen increased use in commercial and residential applications. Since the first installation of geofoam in 1965 (see “A short history of geofoam”), numerous projects around the world that have relied on the material to solve construction problems.
Given EPS geofoam’s low weight, strength, and ease of use, more project teams are using it to solve regular construction challenges in five basic applications. Read the full article featured on CE NEWS as our Geofoam Specialist, Nico, discusses:
- The five basic applications and specific project examples: 1.) Lateral load reductions on structures 2.) Soft soil remediation 3.) Slope stabilization 4.) Lateral and dead load reductions over buried utilities 5.) Lightweight structural void fill.
- Geofoam physical properties
- Short history of geofoam
- Construction considerations
- Cost saving advantages
