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Shear and Compression Behaviors of Sandy and Clayey Soils Mixed with Different Sizes of Expanded Polystyrene Beads

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Abstract

In the present study, the resistance features of sand–expanded polystyrene (EPS) and clay–EPS mixtures have been explored, using the direct shear box and unconfined compression test. EPS beads were mixed homogenously with sands in accordance with different mass ratios of beads to sands, i.e., 0, 0.25, 0.4 and 0.5%. Two various contents of EPS were used by clayey soil mass, i.e., 0.02 and 0.03%. In addition, two different sizes of EPS, coarse (d > 4.75 mm) and fine (d < 4.75 mm) were applied to reconstruct the samples. The experimental results indicated a decrease in internal friction angle and dilation in the sand, as well as in unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of clay samples with the increase of EPS percentage. In contrast, apparent cohesion in sand–EPS samples showed an increase. Moreover, specimens that were blended with coarse beads of EPS showed more internal friction angle, apparent cohesion, dilation and UCS compared with the samples were mixed with fine beads.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Estahban Branch, Islamic Azad University, Estahban, Iran

    Ali Nezhad Shirazi & Houman Haydarian

  2. Department of Geology, Estahban Branch, Islamic Azad University, Estahban, Iran

    Sayed Alireza Nasehi

Authors
  1. Ali Nezhad Shirazi
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  2. Houman Haydarian
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  3. Sayed Alireza Nasehi
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Correspondence to Sayed Alireza Nasehi.

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Shirazi, A.N., Haydarian, H. & Nasehi, S.A. Shear and Compression Behaviors of Sandy and Clayey Soils Mixed with Different Sizes of Expanded Polystyrene Beads. Geotech Geol Eng 36, 3823–3830 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0575-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0575-y

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