Case History of EPS Constructed Bridge Approach Embankment

摘要

A successful case history of using EPS blocks to remedy a failing rocky soil fill in the construction of a bridge approach embankment is presented. The project was the construction of the south approach embankment at Dan-Ao Bay Bridge in Huizhou. The construction began in April, 1996, halted for over three years due to a shear failure in the supporting bay mud, and completed in November, 2000. The failure occurred when the construction of the 9-m high rocky soil fill reached 5 m high. The reconstruction began with removing the top 1 m rocky soil fill then completing the last 5 m embankment with EPS blocks. The completed EPS embankment has been in good condition since its completion and open to traffic loading. The embankment was instrumented to monitor its performance. The performance data evaluated were embankment settlement, pore water pressure in the bay mud, vertical and lateral pressures due to embankment plus traffic loading. The results showed the beneficial effect of using EPS (with the density of 20 kg/m3)in that the vertical pressure on the bay mud was greatly reduced, as would be expected. More importantly, the lateral pressure against the bridge abutment was decreased considerably. All of these have made the embankment and abutment more stable, and ensure the safety of the bridge approach embankment.