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Alternative Backfills for Highway Applications: State of the Practice
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2024-01-01
[PDF-2.71 MB]
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Edition:Final Report
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Abstract:Using alternative materials (e.g., lightweight, recycled) in geotechnical applications may be advantageous compared to conventional structural backfills. This report summarizes current knowledge and the state of practice for using alternative backfill materials in applications, including backfills for retaining walls, bridge abutments, and pipes/culverts, and for embankments, ground improvements, and slope stability. The researchers evaluated nine alternative and lightweight fill materials as follows: controlled low-strength materials (CLSM); expanded shale, clay, and slate (ESCS); foamed glass aggregates (FGA); lightweight cellular concrete (LCC); polystyrene geofoams; reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP); recycled concrete aggregates (RCA); recycled glass aggregates; and tire-derived aggregates (TDA). For each material, the researchers gathered information on the advantages and disadvantages of using backfill in applications, available literature on material characterization, design requirements, design guidelines, placement and construction specifications, cost information, environmental considerations, lifecycle assessment studies, case studies, and performance records. Further, the researchers present the maturity level of each technology, the suitability of using the various geotechnical applications, barriers to the advancement and widespread use of each material in backfill applications, and recommendations for moving forward. Some alternative materials (e.g., RAP, RCA, ESCS, CLSM, and TDA) are more widely used in the United States for geotechnical applications, while others are still emerging. Further, some materials (e.g., LCC, TDA, and geofoams) have well-developed design guidelines, while others (e.g., CLSM and FGA) could require more research. Lastly, the researchers concluded that most of these recycled/alternative materials, while marketed as "green" materials, lacked quantifiable environmental impacts obtained from lifecycle assessments and environmental product declarations for products manufactured in the United States.
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