Evaluating the Role of Geofoam Properties in Reducing Lateral Loads on Retaining Walls: A Numerical Study

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam is a lightweight compressible material that has been widely used in various civil engineering projects. One interesting application of EPS geotechnical to reduce the lateral earth pressure on rigid non-yielding retaining walls. The nature allows for shear strength backfill soil be mobilized, which leads reduction acting wall. In this study, finite element model developed and investigate role inclusion between wall transferred structure. was first calibrated using experimental data. Then, parametric study conducted effect density, relative thickness with respect height, frictional angle effectiveness technique reducing pressure. Results showed low-density provides best performance, particularly when coupled low friction angle. proposed modeling approach shown efficient solving class problems can similar soil-geofoam-structure interaction problems.