Load Reduction on Buried Pipes and Culverts using Geosynthetics

토목섬유를 이용한 매설암거의 토압저감효과 연구

The last 30 years have been significant worldwide growth in the use of EPS as a lightweight fill material. A new construction method was introduced, which reduces earth pressure acting on culvert and conduit by placing a thin layer of EPS. This paper analyzes the compressible inclusion function of EPS and geogrid which can results in reduction of earth pressure by arching that is the behaviour of soil-structure system involving redistribution of soil stress around the structure. Field test was conducted to evaluate the reduction of vertical earth pressure using EPS and geogrid inclusion. Based on field test it is found that the magnitude of reduced vertical earth pressure was about 24~50% compared to conventional method.