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Performance of Geofoam Included Nailed-Walls in Dynamic Condition

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Abstract

The application of geofoam buffers in nailed walls to reduce lateral earth pressure on the retaining wall facing is investigated in this study. The research focuses on the efficiency of compressible EPS geofoam inclusions in mitigating wall-facing deformations and axial nail forces under harmonic loads. To achieve this, two-dimensional numerical models were developed using the finite element ABAQUS program and validated against well-documented experimental studies. By varying the compressibility and thickness of the geofoam layer, their influence on the performance of the nailed walls were examined. The key findings of the study reveal that the presence of geofoam buffers significantly enhances the isolation efficiency of the retaining walls. Increasing the compressibility and thickness of the geofoam layer leads to improved performance in reducing wall deformations and mobilized axial nail forces. However, the analysis results indicate that caution should be exercised in selecting the thickness of the geofoam, as excessive thickness beyond 0.3H (H, excavation height) can cause distress in upper nail axial forces. The practical implications of this study are noteworthy for geotechnical engineering and retaining wall design. Engineers can optimize wall performance by considering the compressibility and thickness of the geofoam layer based on project-specific requirements. The research contributes valuable insights into using geofoam buffers, offering potential benefits for engineering practice and encouraging further research.

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  1. College of Applied Technology, Chongqing College of Finance and Economics, Yongchuan, Chongqing, 402160, China

    Xiaochuan Yang

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  1. Xiaochuan Yang
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Yang, X. Performance of Geofoam Included Nailed-Walls in Dynamic Condition. Geotech Geol Eng 42, 1977–1992 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-023-02656-6

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