ESCS Lightweight Soil Mechanics – Properties and Applications
By T.A. Holm and A.J. Valsangkar
Structural grade lightweight aggregates (LWA) have been extensively used
throughout North America for more than [80] years in cast-in-place
structural lightweight concretes for high-rise buildings and bridges,
and are now being widely used for geotechnical applications. Structural
grade LWA, when used in backfills and over soft soils, provides
geotechnical physical properties that include reduced density, high
stability, high permeability, and high thermal resistance. These
improved physical properties are found in aggregates with a reduced
specific gravity and a predictable stability resulting from a
consistently high angle of internal friction. The open texture
available from a closely controlled manufactured aggregate gradation
ensure high permeability. High thermal resistance results from porosity
developed during the production process. In this publication, the
physical properties of structural grade LWA and geotechnical engineering
properties of LWA are illustrated. Additionally, references to
extensive testing programs that developed data on shear strength,
compressibility, durability and in-place density are given.
Representative case studies are reported from [several hundred] projects
that illustrate completed applications of structural grade LWA fills
over soft soils and behind retaining walls and bridge abutments.
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