EXPERIMENTALSTUDYONBUFFERINGEFFECTOFLAYER-BUILTEPS REINFORCEDWITHGEOGRIDSAGAINSTROCKFALLIMPACT

Abstract

Expanded Poly-Styrene, i.e. EPS is heaped up on a rockfall protection structure such as a rockshed, and the layer-built EPS has a good effect on defusing the impact force of a rockfall. The thickness of layer-built EPS must not be increased in proportion to the magnitude of a rockfall, since the workability andeconomical efficiency become bad and irrational in case of a hugerockfall. In order to improve the performance of layer-built EPS weight free-fall tests were carried out on the layer-built EPS reinforced with Geogrids which were put between the EPS layers. It was found in this investigation that the layer-built EPS reinforced with Geogrids has a good performance against rockfalls.