Evaluation of strength of expanded polystyrene by mechanical tests

• Grant number: 15/12450-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2015
• End date: October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Paulo César Lodi
• Grantee: Mariana Basolli Borsatto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This work will evaluate properties of expanded polystyrene (EPS) to verify its feasibility and use in geotechnical projects in order to meet the project requirements. In a first moment, physical and mechanical properties will studied to then find the other aspects such as chemical resistance, hydraulic properties, among others. Density, shear strength and uniaxial compression tests will be performed according the current standards (ABNT) and methods used by the current literature. The tests allow the analysis of physical and mechanical characteristics that are critical to assessing the potential use of the material in civil engineering works and/or environmental. The results will be compared considering the resistance taking into account also its compressibility and physical properties (density) that directly influence the behavior of the material. Different densities will be used (0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.25 kN/m3) in order to compare the results. Thus, this work aims to provide more information regarding the strength behavior. In a second moment the degradation and other factors that affect the use of EPS in geotechnical works will be evaluated.