Location
San Diego, California
Presentation Date
26 May 2010, 4:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a dynamic finite-element analysis addressing the effectiveness of a double expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam buffer system in reducing the peak seismic loads on a rigid, non-yielding retaining wall during an earthquake. A double EPS geofoam buffer system involves two vertical EPS panels, i.e., one EPS panel placed against the rigid wall face and another EPS panel installed at a specific distance away from the first panel in the backfill soil. Sensitivity analyses of the seismic performance of the double EPS geofoam buffer system in relation to the spacing between the EPS panels indicate that there is an optimum EPS panel spacing at which the seismic isolation efficiency of the double geofoam buffer system is maximized. Additionally, a comparative numerical study of the seismic response of double and single EPS geofoam buffers revealed that a double geofoam buffer system with an optimized EPS panel spacing is more efficient than a single panel EPS geofoam buffer for the same total thickness of EPS.
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Meeting Name
5th International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics
Publisher
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Document Version
Final Version
Rights
© 2010 Missouri University of Science and Technology, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
File Type
text
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Trandafir, Aurelian C. and Bartlett, Steven F., "Seismic Performance of Double EPS Geofoam Buffer Systems" (2010). International Conferences on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics. 43.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/icrageesd/05icrageesd/session05/43
Included in
Seismic Performance of Double EPS Geofoam Buffer Systems
San Diego, California
This paper presents the results of a dynamic finite-element analysis addressing the effectiveness of a double expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam buffer system in reducing the peak seismic loads on a rigid, non-yielding retaining wall during an earthquake. A double EPS geofoam buffer system involves two vertical EPS panels, i.e., one EPS panel placed against the rigid wall face and another EPS panel installed at a specific distance away from the first panel in the backfill soil. Sensitivity analyses of the seismic performance of the double EPS geofoam buffer system in relation to the spacing between the EPS panels indicate that there is an optimum EPS panel spacing at which the seismic isolation efficiency of the double geofoam buffer system is maximized. Additionally, a comparative numerical study of the seismic response of double and single EPS geofoam buffers revealed that a double geofoam buffer system with an optimized EPS panel spacing is more efficient than a single panel EPS geofoam buffer for the same total thickness of EPS.
