Civil Engineering and Technology

December 2012, Volume 1, Issue 1, PP.1-9

The Research and Development of Light-Weight

Soil Mixed with EPS Beads
Fei Tong, Hongmei Gao#, Guoxing Chen
Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing Jiangsu 210009, China
#Email: hongmei54@163.com

Abstract
This study aims to summarize the research and development of light-weight soil mixed within EPS beads at home and abroad. It is
point out that the confining pressure, cement content, EPS beads content, water content and curing time have a profound effect on
the mechanical properties, the strength and deformation properties. And from the macroscopic and microscopic, the formation of
the shear strength and the failure mechanism are revealed. The literature also presents the experimental studies of creep,
permeability and water absorbability in order to confront practical applications, especially under dynamic loads. It is found that the
confining pressure, cement content, EPS beads content are main factors to the relationship between the dynamic stress and strain,
the dynamic strength ,dynamic modulus and damping ratio. At last, the article introduces some engineering applications, then
points out the existing problems about researching EPS composite soil which should be paid more attention.
Keywords: EPS Beads; Light-Weight Soil; Strength and Modulus; Dynamic Property; Constitutive Model

EPS *

210009
EPS EPS

EPS
EPS
EPS -
( EPS )

EPS

2050[1]EPSexpanded polystyrene

EPS
60EPS
70EPS1992[2]
*

51109072012M511260
-1www.ivypub.org/cet

(geofoam)EPS
EPS2080EPS(EPS
beads)(air foam) EPS

EPS
2001[3]
EPS28d365d
EPS
[4-7]
EPSEPS28d

0.8
0.6

EPS

0.4

EPS

0.2

MPa

EPS

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

kN/m3
1

EPS2000[8]EPS

[9]

EPS

[10]EPS
EPS[11]
EPS

1 EPS
EPSEPS
kN/m3EPS0.6~1.8 g/cm3 EPS
[12]EPSEPS
EPSEPS1%10%
5%5%EPS
0.02~0.04 g/cm3EPS
EPSEPS
EPS
[12][13]
0.6 g/cm3
-2www.ivypub.org/cet

EPS
[12]
10%2%~4%[14]EPS
13%13%
13%[15]EPS
16%~18%2011[16]

9[17]
23%
3%-10%~+5%

2 EPS
2.1
EPS28d50kPa~550kPa
70MPa~550MPaEPS

EPS
-
[18]UUCU
UUEPS
CU
2007Takashi Tsuchida[19]c/qmax/
E50c/qmax0.5
0.5Juichi[20]
-
-[21]EPS

EPS[9]EPS
1~3mm[22]EPS
[23]
EPSEPSEPS
EPS
Deng An[24]EPSEPS/-
0.5%0~0.5%0.5%~2.5%

EPS
[25]
Liu[26]
-3www.ivypub.org/cet

7d28dEPS
10%~25%EPS1%
9.7~25kPa20%EPS
7d28d33.3%~59.5
[27]
EPS
EPSE50qu
Takashi[28]E50qu75200Takashi[19]2007
100200300kPa
2003[29]190kPa

200kPa[26]200kPa
[29]
EPS
EPS

2.2
[30]
EPSEPS
EPS

[31]

c[32]EPS

EPS
EPS
EPS
[33]CTEPS
MESDEPS
MEEPS
EPS
[34]EPS

EPS
EPS
-4www.ivypub.org/cet

2.3
EPS
-[18]
EPS--
--
-
[35]
-
[36]EPS-
Mises
EPS
-
K.OMINE[37]
-EPS
EPS
-
[38]
-[39]EPS
EPS
kelvin
EPS

2.4
EPS
[40]EPS
,
[41]

EPS
Takashi Tsuchida[19]K0
0.5%~1%K00.10.15K0EPS

EPSTakao Satoh[3]
10m1.0~1.2g/cm328d365d
[17]EPS[42]
10-6~10-7cm/s
[43]EPS
10-6~10-7cm/sEPS
EPS
[44]
-5www.ivypub.org/cet

10-6~10-7cm/sEPS

3 EPS
EPS
EPS

-
-
EPS-[45]
[46]CU-EPS-EPS
[47]EPS
[48]
EPS
EPS-EPS
EPS
EPS
EPS
[49]
A
nAEPSnA
n0.5~1.25EPS

[50]

EPS

EPS
[51]EPS5%
EPS

EPSEPS
EPS[52]EPS

4
EPS
-6www.ivypub.org/cet

[53, 54]
EPS

EPS

EPS

EPS-

EPS

REFERENCES
[1]

Giselher Beinbrech. EPS in Road ConstructionCurrent Situation in Germany[J]. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 1997, 5: 39-57

[2]

J. S. Horvath. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Geofoam: An Introduction to Material Behavior[J]. Geotextiles and Geomembranes,
1994, 13:263-280

[3]

Takao Satoh, Takashi Tsuchida. Field Placing Text of Lightweight Treated Soil under Seawater in Kumamoto Port[J]. The
Japanese Geotechnical Society, 2001, 41(5): 145-154

[4]

Cheng Du, Jun Yang. The EPS Properties and Applied analysis[J]. Journal of southeast university (Natural science Edition), 2001,
31(3):138-142

[5]

Zhong-ping Chen, Shu-lin Wang. The application of air foam Soil[J]. Journal of China and Foreign Highway, 2003, 3(5):117-120

[6]

Zu-zhang Bi. The Application of Air Foam Soil in Highway Engineering[J]. China New Technologies and Products, 2012, (3):
120-121

[7]

GAO Hong-mei, LIU Jinyuan, LIU Hanlong. Geotechnical properties of EPS composite soil[J]. International Journal of
Geotechnical Engineering, 2011, 5:69-77

[8]

Shi-dong Ma, Peng-e Li, Fang Tu. The Engineering Properties of SLS[J]. Ground treatment, 2000, 11(3): 97-100

[9]

Shi-dong Ma. The Properties of SLS with expanded Polystyrene[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2001, 22(3): 245-248

[10] Feng-ling Ji, Wei Zhu, Zhao-ping Fan. The Study on the Druged soil mixed with EPS Beads[C]. The Ninth Soil Mechanics and
Geotechnical Engineering academic Conference in China Civil Engineering Society, Beijing, 2003,1311-1315
[11] Han-long Liu, Jin-mei Dong, Yu-feng Gao. Technical Development and Engineering Characteristice of Lightweight mixed soil[J].
Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2005, 26(increase): 13-16
[12] Han-long Liu, Jin-mei Dong, Yun-dong Zhou, et al. Factors Influencing on Physico-mechanical Properties of the Light Soil mixed
Polystyrene[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2005, 26(3): 445-449
[13] Jin-mei Dong, Pei Wang, Shou-xi Chai. Effect of Expanded Polystyrene Grains on Light weight mixed Soil[J]. Advances in
Science ang Technology of Water Resources, 2007, 27(5): 26-28
[14] Jun Tang, Wei Zhu, Ming-dong Li, et al. Physico-mechanical Properties of Sand EPS beads-mixed Light weight Soil[J]. Rock and
Soil Mechanics, 2007, 28(5): 1045-1049
[15] WANG Fei, MIAO Lin-chang. A proposed lightweight ll for embankments using cement-treated Yangzi River sand and expanded
-7www.ivypub.org/cet

polystyrene (EPS) beads[J]. Bull Eng Geol Environ, 2009: 517-524

[16] Tian-shun Hou, Guang-li Xu. Optimum Water Content Models and Tests of Light weight Soil[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical
Engineering, 2011, 33(07): 1129-1134
[17] Huang-de Gu, Xi Gu. Stability of Light Soil Mixed with Foamed Beads under Dry-wet-cycle Condition[J]. Highway, 2005, (5):
125-128
[18] Han-long Liu, Jin-mei Liu, Yun-dong Zhou, et al. Study on the Stress-strain characteristics of Light heterogeneous Soil mixed with
expanded Polystyrene[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2004, 26(5): 579-583
[19] Takashi Tsuchida, Yi Xin Tang, Yoichi Watabe. Mechanical Properties of Lightweight treated Soil cured in Water Pressure[J]. The
Japanese Geotechnical Society, 2007, 47(4):731-748
[20] Juichi YAJIMA. Mechanical Properties of the Unsaturated Foam Composite Light-Weight Soil[J]. Unsaturate soil, 2006:
1639-1650
[21] Tian-shun Hou, Guang-li Xun. Experiment on Triaxial Pore Water Pressure-stress-strain Characteristics of Foamed Particle Light
Weight Soil[J]. China Journal of Highway and Transport, 2009, 22(6): 10-17
[22] Dian-guang Ma, Chen Zhu, Feng-lin Ji. Study on Mechanical Property of stabilized Light Soil mixed by dredged Material[J].
Journal of Waterway Harbour, 2005, 26(4): 237-240
[23] Feng-ling Ji, Qiang Li, Xin-ming Chen. Effects of the Type of Expanded Poly-styrene Beads on the Mechanical Properties of
Lightweight Treated Soil[J]. Northwestern Seismological Journal, 2006, 28(2): 154-158
[24] DENG An, XIAO Yang. Shear behavior of sand-expanded polystyrene beads lightweight fills[J]. JOURNAL OF CENTRAL
SOUTH UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2008, 15(s2): 174-179
[25] Jin-mei Dong, Han-long Liu, Zhen-xun Hong, et al. Test Study on Compression and Deformation Behavior of Light heterogeneous
Soil mixed with Expanded Polystyrene[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2006, 27(2): 286-289
[26] Han-long Liu, An Deng, Jian Chu. Effect of different mixing Ratios of Polystyrene pre-puff beads and cement on the mechanical
behaviour of lightweight ll[J]. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 2006, 24: 331-338
[27] Wei Zhu, Feng-ling Ji, Ming-dong Li, et al. Relationships among Density Strength and Materials of Lightweight treated Soil[J].
Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2007, 28(7): 1411-1414
[28] Takashi Tsuchida, Ali Porbaha, Nobuyuki Yamane. Development of a geomaterical from dredged bay Mud[J]. Journal of Materials
in civil engineering 2001, 13(2): 152-160
[29] Huan-da Gu, xi Gu, Yan Shen, et al. The Fundamental Properties of Light Soil mixed with Foamed Beads[J]. J. of University of
Science and Technology of Suzhou Engineering and Technology, 2003, 16(4): 44-48
[30] Wei Zhu, Feng-ling Ji, Dian-guang Ma, et al. Shear Strength Properties of Lightweight Bead-treated Soil made from dredged
silt[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2005, 24(increase2): 5721-5726
[31] Feng-ling Ji, Qing-feng Lv, Shu-hua Wang. Lightweight EPS-treated Soil Structure Parameter and Relations to Deformation and
strength[J]. Building Technique Development, 2006, 33(8): 41-44
[32] Tian-shun Hou, Guang-li Xu. Influence law of EPS size on shear strength of light weight soil[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical
Engineering, 2011, 33(10): 1634-1640
[33] Shu-mao Wang, Yu-feng Gao. Research on meso-structure of lightweight sand-EPS beads soil(LSES)using CT[J]. Rock and Soil
Mechanics, 2006, 27(12): 2137-2142
[34] Feng-ling Ji, Qing-feng Lv, Dian-guang Ma. Experimental Study on Microstructure of Lightweight EPS-bead-treated Soil
Mechanical Behavior[J]. Journal of Lanzhou University(Natural Sciences), 2007, 43(1): 19-23
[35] Feng-ling Ji, Qing-feng Lv, Ming-dong Li. Study on the constitutive model of lightweight EPS-bead-treated soil made from silt[J].
Journal of Shenzhen University Science and Engineering, 2006, 23(3): 195-200
[36] Yang Xiao. Study on the Engineering Behaviors and constitutive Model of Lightweight Fills composed with EPS Beads and
Soils[D]. Hohai University, 2009
[37] K.Omine, H. Ochiai, N. Yasufuku. Evaluation of Strength-Deformation Properties of Light-Weight Soils Based on Two-Phase
-8www.ivypub.org/cet

Mixture Model. Twelfth Southeast Asian Geotechnical Conference 1996. Kuala Lumpur
[38] Huan-DA Gu, Xi Gu. Strength and deformation properties of foamed beads light soil[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2006, 27(11):
1922-1926
[39] Hong-mei Gao. The creep Behavior of EPS composite Soil and the numerical Simulations[D]. Hohai University, 2010
[40] Hong-mei Gao, Han-long Liu, Jin-yuan Liu. Creep behaviors of Lightweight EPS treated Soil[J]. Hohai University, 2010, 38(4):
402-406
[41] Properties of Lightweight Mixed Soil[J]. China Journal of Highway and Transport, 2010, 23(1): 38-41
[42] Jin-mei Dong, Shou-xi Chai, Pei Wan, et al. Laboratory study on seepage properties of the light heterogeneous soil mixed
polystyrene[J]. Journal of Nanjing University of Technology, 2006, 28(3): 11-13
[43] Yun-hua Zhu. The Study on Water permeability Tests of Lightweight Soil with EPS[J]. Geotechnical Investigation and Sueveying,
2007, (10): 17-20
[44] Han-long Liu, Yun-hua Zhu, Jin-mei Dong. Laboratory Study of Permeability of Lightweight soil with EPS under different
consolidation Pressures[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2007, 28(11): 2333-2336
[45] Guo-xin Chen. Ground Earthquake Engineering[M], Science Press: Nanjing, 2006
[46] Jing Li, Lin-chang Miao, Jian-chi Zhong. Load-unloading Stress-strain Characteristics of EPS Beads-mixed Lightweight Soil[J].
Geotechnical Engineering World, 2009, 12(6): 70-73
[47] Jing Li, Lin-chang Miao, Jian-chi Zhong, et al. Deformation and Damping Characteristics of EPS Beads-mixed Lightweight Soil
under repeated Load-unloading[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2010, 31(6): 1769-1775
[48] Bing Li, Yu-feng Gao. Experimental Study on dynamic Deformation Characteristics of Lightweight Clay-EPS Beads Soil[J].
Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2007, 29(7): 1042-1047
[49] Shu-mao Wang, Yu-feng Gao. Study on Degradation Behavior of dynamic shear Modulus for Lightweight sand-EPS Beads Soil[J].
Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2007, 28(5): 1001-1004
[50] Shu-mao Wang, Yu-feng Gao, Ali H.Mahfouz. Experimental Study on the Critical Cyclic Stress Ratio of Lightweight Sand-EPS
Beads Soil(LSES)[J]. Journal of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Engineering, 2007, 27(2): 171-176
[51] Yu-feng Gao, Bing Li. Experimental Study on Dynamic Strength Properties of Lightweight Clay mixed with EPS Beads Soil[J].
Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2007, 26(2): 4276-4283
[52] Rui-ming Tong. Comparative Experiment Research on Dynamic Behaviors of Lightweight Sand-EPS beads Soil with Sand[D].
Hohai University, 2007
[53] Ming-dong Li, Wei Zhu. Dian-guang Ma, et al. Construction Technology and Application in-situ of expanded Polystyrene treated
Lightweight Soil[J]. Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2006, 28(4): 533-536
[54] Shao-hua Yang, Jian-fu Hu, Huai-wu Zeng, et al. Application of Man-Made Light Soil in High Grade Highway[J]. Highway, 2006,
(6): 81-86

1987-

2#

1982-

Email: hongmei54@163.com

Email: tongfei_87@163.com

Email: gxc6307@163.com

1963-

-9www.ivypub.org/cet