Design and Analysis of Shredded Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Mixed Clays Based Slope Stabilization Measures

Abstract

Population growth and the expansion of settlements and infrastructure into areas prone to unstable landslides significantly increase the potential for damage, impacting both developed and developing countries. Limited resources often hinder developing countries' ability to implement expensive preventative measures. Moreover, Polystyrene represents a considerable portion (around 10%) of total plastic waste, posing a significant environmental burden due to its poor recycling rates. This study investigates the potential use of this waste-expanded polystyrene (EPS) mixed with clays in shredded foam as a sustainable and costeffective solution for slope stabilization. This approach utilizes 0% to 2.5% shredded EPS mixed with low plastic as lightweight fill materials for slope reinforcement, alongside benching techniques. The effectiveness is evaluated using stability analysis software (Slide2D). Key findings demonstrate that incorporating 1.5% EPS-clay mixtures significantly improves the Factor of Safety (FOS) in various slope scenarios. Notably, FOS increased from 0.83 to 1.4 in Danna Sahotar and 0.335 to 1.42 in Qalandarabad. This research highlights the potential of EPS-clay mixtures as a sustainable alternative for slope stabilization, offering advantages like reduced material weight, improved drainage, and potential internal shear strength benefits. The findings suggest that the technique might be particularly effective on gentle slopes like, while steeper slopes might require additional reinforcement.