30A
Construction methods
861239
Principle of lightweight embankments: restrictions on the use
of polystyrene (In French)
Magnan, J P; Soyez, B
Bull Liaison Lab Ponts Chaussees N136, March-April 1985,
P9-I3
The general problems of construction of embankments incor-
porating lightweight materials are reviewed. Reference is made
in particular to the characteristics of various materials com-
monly employed for the construction of this type of embank-
ment. Embankments constructed using expanded polystyrene
blocks are considered. Details of the intrinsic properties of
polystyrene are given, together with advice concerning struc-
tural design and construction.
861240
Norwegian experience in the use of expanded polystyrene in
highway embankments (In French)
Refsdal. G
Bull Liaison Lab Ponts Chaussees N136, March-April 1985,
P14-20
Review of the data acquired during the past twelve years by
the Norwegian Road Research Laboratory concerning the
construction of lightweight expanded polystyrene embank-
ments, the design calculation of pavements laid on these
embankments, the physical and mechanical properties of
expanded polystyrene, and the economic advantage of the use
of this technique. The principal characteristics of expanded
polystyrene embankments built in Norway between 1972 and
1980 are given.
861241
Expanded polystyrene embankment of the Quatre Canaux
bridge at Palavas-les-Flots. 1. The point of view of the project
manager (In French)
Lassauce, P; Antoine, g
Bull Liaison Lab Ponts Chaussees N136, March-April 1985,
P21-29
The approach embankments of the Quatre Canaux bridge,
built in 1967 on a stratum of compressible soils nearly 25m
thick, were continuing to settle in 1983 at a rate of 7cms a
year. To limit the cost of maintenance of the pavement near
the bridge, one embankment was lightened by replacing part
of the existing material by blocks of expanded polystyrene, in
accordance with the technique developed in Norway. The dif-
ferent aspects of the preparation and performance of this pro-
ject are described: the previous history of the Palavas-les-Flots
embankments, a study of predicted efficacity of the lightening
of the embankment, the technical, financial and administrative
aspects of the project, the sequence of operations, and the
results of measurements made during the first year following
the work.
861242
Expanded polystyrene embankment of the Quatre Canaux
bridge at Palavas-les-Fiots. 2. Geotechnical aspects (In
French)
Mieussens, C
Bull Liaison Lab Ponts Chaussees N136, March-April 1985,
P30-36
The geotechnical aspects of the construction of an expanded
polystyrene embankment on compressible soils are presented.
The technique is used to partially lighten an embankment
which has been in place for seventeen years. Available data
and examination of the site enabled the past hlstorx of the
embankment to be established, and from this the amplitudes
and rates of present and future settlements ,xere c,,alualt?d as a
function of the degree of lightening. Settlements are compared
over a period of a year for the lightened embankment and the
unlightened approach embankment on the other side of the
bridge.
861243
Expanded polystyrene embankment of the Quatre Canaux
bridge at Palavas-les-Fiots. 3. Contractor's viewpoint (In
French)
Chazal, P; Tessonneau, D
Bull Liaison Lab Ponts Chaussees N137, May-June 1985.
P25-27
The first expanded polystyrene embankment built by SCREG-
Routes was at the Quatre Canaux Bridge. The reasons why
this constructional method, which has been used for 12 years
in Norway, was adopted to stabilise the settlement of the
embankment are explained. Features of the project as it
progressed are described.
Groundwater problems
861244
Damaging settlement of a building due to gypsum dissolution
Luong, M P
Proc International Conference on Case Histories in
Geotechnical Engineering, RoUa, Missouri, 6-11 May 1984
V1, P27-30. Publ St Louis: Geolechnical Enghleering, 1984
Groundwater pumping, during the construction of a nearby
sewer, was followed by cracking and settlement of a Paris
building. Site investigation showed zones of weakness and
swallow holes caused by gypsum leaching, due to the fluctua-
tion of the groundwater level.
861245
Foundation heave at ASCO II Nuclear Power Plant
Fallgren, R B; McClure, C R
Proc International Conference on Case Histories in
Geotechnical Engineering, Roila, Missouri, 6-11 May 1984
VI, P259-266. Publ St Louis." Geotechnical Engineering, 1984
Excavation of 75m of claystone at ASCO Unit II resulted in
foundation heave in excess of anticipated elastic rebound. The
heave was found to be caused by expansive clay minerals in
the rock swelling in the presence of water. Maximum estimates
of future heave were made based on past trends, and struc-
tures analysed to demonstrate their capacity to resist heave-
caused deformation. The primary factor controlling heave was
found to be the amount of water available in the bedrock.
Influence of dynamic loads
861246
Experimental foundation impedance functions. Technical note
Crouse, C B; Liang, G C; Martin, G R
J Geotech Engng Div ASCE VIII, N6, June 1985, P819-822
Impedance functions are important in studying dynamic soil
structure interaction problems. Field tests have been carried
out using forced vibration of a concrete pad, loaded symmetri-
cally and asymmetrically, at frequencies from 5-50Hz, in order
to quantify the various components of the impedance function
matrix.