Use of geogrid and geofoam in vertical fill applications in areas with limited horizontal width: A numerical study

With the rapid development of geosynthetics in recent years, their use in civil engineering applications has become widespread. Compared to other building materials, easy portability, light weight, ease of application, shortening project duration and long life span have increased the usage areas of geosynthetics in highway engineering. They are used in highway applications to provide drainage, impermeability, protection and reinforcement. In highway engineering, high cuts and fills are areas that may pose problems in terms of both soil stability and bearing capacity. Geogrid and geofoam materials can be used in such areas to solve soil problems. Within the scope of the thesis study, analyzes will be carried out on providing solutions by using geogrid and geofoam materials for high embankment areas. This thesis study was prepared to compare the effects of using geofoam instead of geogrid-reinforced fill when the fill amount was to be increased by approximately 1 m from the originally planned fill height due to a subsequent zoning plan change requiring the design of an intersection area on a geogrid-reinforced road fill that had already been completed. Additionally, this study aims to determine which material is more effective by comparing the performance of geogrid and geofoam materials under the same soil conditions. In this context, the thesis study will be supported by scientific data obtained from various sources. Within the scope of this thesis, the performance of geogrid and geofoam material solutions under the same ground conditions will be discussed in detail and will contribute to the selection of materials that can be used more effectively in similar applications.