Evaluation of expanded polystyrene degradation by laboratory tests

• Grant number: 16/13108-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2016
• End date: October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Paulo César Lodi
• Grantee: Beatriz Garcia Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This work will assess the effect of chemical degradation with solvents (gasoline, alcohol, and diesel oil) and weathering in the physical and mechanical properties of expanded polystyrene (EPS). The densities to be tested are of 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.25 kN / m3. The evaluation of degradation's effects will be performed by the comparison of fresh samples and degradated samples results. Density, shear strength and uniaxial compression tests will be performed according to current standards (ABNT) and methods used by the current literature. Thus, this work aims to provide more information on the degradation behavior of the physical properties and resistance that affect the use of EPS in geotechnical works and complements previous work approved by FAPESP (case number: 2015/12450-6).