ABSTRACT
To purposes of present research expect EPS geofoam to cover shaft pile over neutral plane. Geofoam material is made by blocks of polystyrene particles placed by mean of expansion and fusion process. Geofoam have been used in geotechnical engineering in slides, backfills and tunnels, this material proves their utility in reducing lateral pressures in walls using it in the backfill, also geofoam reduce filtrations and can seal cracks and can be used as vibration barriers (Minova Corp., 2010). However, this material hasn’t been used in pile foundation construction. Fist numerical modeling to use geofoam in expansive soils is developed after Ayketin (1997), using how a compressible inclusion between foundation and soil. Laboratory study of geofoam in expansive soils is developed where is showed a comparative measure of pressures with and without geofoam.
