This document discusses geofoams, which are rigid cellular foamed polymeric materials used in geotechnical engineering applications. Geofoams, also called expanded polystyrene (EPS) or extruded polystyrene (XPS), are lightweight cellular plastic materials that come in block or honeycomb forms. They have densities ranging from 11 to 40 kg/m3, around 100 times less than conventional fill materials. The document outlines various uses of geofoams in embankments, retaining walls, bridge abutments, road construction, and other applications. It also discusses their advantages as alternative backfill and filling materials due to their light weight and ability to reduce lateral earth pressures.

1. GEO FOAMS
Submitted By
T. Saidulu
135T1A0146

2. INTRODUCTION
 As per ASTM D 4439, the Geofoam can be defined
as block or planar rigid cellular foamed polymeric
used in geotechnical engineering applications.
 In textile term, the geofoam is called as Expended
Polystyrene (EPS) or Extruded Polystyrene (XPS).
 The geofoam is a cellular plastic material. We say it a
thermocal used for packaging the electronic goods,
making cup container to drink coffee or tea and
others.
 The geofoam is a super light material which is
available in the form of blocks or cellular honeycomb
form. It provides easy of handling. It is an emerging
geomaterial

3.  Size of block-molded geofoam is about 600 mm
x 1200 mm x 2400 mm. The block size can vary
from country to country. The other minimized
sizes can be made by cutting and trimming at
site.
 Weight of the block varies from 11 kg/m3 to 40
kg/m3. Its density is very less (about 100 times
less) compared to the conventional fill materials
in geotechnical engineering.
 Geofoams have been used in many structures
around the world for the last forty-five years.
 The life time of geofoam is about 70 to 100
years.

4. GEOSYNTHETICS FOR GEOFOAM STRUCTURES

5. GEOFOAM RETAINING WALL

6. FULL SIZE EPS BLOCK IN TEMPORARY STORAGE AFTER
MOULDING

7. GEOFOAM MANUFACTURING PROCESS

8. APPLICATIONS
 Geofoam can effectively be used in various engineering
applications,
Embankment and Pavements, Tunnels and buried
pipes
Retaining walls and abutments, Tunnels
Road widening, Clay Liners
Railways, Flood Control Levees
Foundation Parking
Side-hill fill, Clay Heave Protection
Landscape Sound barriers
Dike/ Berms Landfills, and
Below ground walls of structures Gas Venting

9. GEOFOAM AS AN ALTERNATIVE BACKFILL MATERIAL BEHIND
RETAINING WALL
In conventional method, good quality granular materials are used as
backfill behind retaining structures. Sometimes the materials are
scarce.
The inclusion of geofoam reduces the lateral earth pressure
dramatically.

10. GEOFOAM AS AN ALTERNATIVE FILLING MATERIAL FOR
EMBANKMENT

11. PLACEMENT OF GEOFOAM AS BACKFILL MATERIAL BEHIND
REINFORCED CONCRETE RETAINING WALL

12. PLACEMENT OF GEOFOAM AS DRAINAGE BEHIND REINFORCED
CONCRETE RETAINING WALL

13. GEOFOAM AS COMPRESSIBLE INCLUSION WITH REINFORCEMENTS BEHIND
REINFORCED CONCRETE RETAINING WALL

14. Application of Geofoam behind
bridge
abutment (after Stark et al., 2004)
Geofoam application in retaining wall
for
extension of existing pavement

15. Geofoam as filling material beneath the pavement
Embankment made of geofoam as filling material

16. Geofoam beneath the slabs or beams at
foundation (After Frydenlund et al.,
1987)
Slope side fills of
geofoam

17. Geofoam application in hilly terrain
Different density geofoam used for road construction

18. Geofoam beneath the
bridge abutment (After
Frydenlund and Aabфe,
1996
Geofoam above canal

19. Geofoam as compressible inclusion
beneath a grade beam or structural slab

21. Bridge Ramp Construction With Geofoam
Geofoam – Check After 25 Years In
Service
No deformation
No damage