Large fill alternatives
Large fill alternatives
(OP)
What products are there that can be be used as fill for a large railroad project? The fills are as much as 30'. The soils are not good. The client needs to do this during the wet season. We are utilizing cement soil treatment, but it is proving to be expensive.





RE: Large fill alternatives
RE: Large fill alternatives
RE: Large fill alternatives
RE: Large fill alternatives
Lime is often used to aid the drying process. Usually 2 to 3 percent. With a fill height of 30 ft - not sure what the fill slopes are-, on ehas to be concerned about slope sloughs. On can try intermediate layers of gravel to aid in pore water presure dissipation of the fill is wet and no use of additives are required . Availability of granular material and cost comes in the picture as well. However,you noted that use of strong soils is not a solution.
The use of 6 inch fills while specified is hardly ever done or realistic. Try at least 500 mm lifts. The use of vibratory compactors and with hauling equipment, 95% Standard Proctor is readily achieveable these days. Getting closer to the top of the fill below the subballast, one my want to use non-woven fabric and better material for the top say 0.5m.
The above are not cast in stone and much depends on the nature of the fill. The term silt can also be a soil which has gravel sizes but has more silt sizes. It is often difficult without a gradation or look at the material, hence you are the judge. Look at the Proctor curve for moisture sensitivity of the material.
RE: Large fill alternatives
The client has on site borrow area
The cost is being driven up by using lime or cement used for soil stabilization because, of the time of year this work is going to happen.
I had hoped to investigate a product that could be placed while not being concerned with the rain. If the cost of the fill plus the cost of soil treatment was the same or more than placing another product, the client might consider it, just to make the schedule.
RE: Large fill alternatives
RE: Large fill alternatives
Do you know where to look for a productline, a company a ....? I emailed the styrofoam industry and have not heard back. i even emailed the tire recycle assoc. i would like to come up with an alternative that is not so weather dependent.
RE: Large fill alternatives
You are concerned with the substrate and not the fill material itself I would guess though. What, specifically, do the insitu materials show?
You can excavate and embed the foam material (some types are poured in place) for a completely neutral embankment.
RE: Large fill alternatives
i'm not really concerned with the material just the cost of the fill and placing the fill. i offered as a solution, not do the work for 3 months and pay the contractor accel. thinking that it might actually save money. That was not thought of highly. so then i figured find something that can be worked during the winter months, that would not be impacted as much by rain.
RE: Large fill alternatives
If you want to investigate styrofoam backfill, check out this link:
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However, the stuff is relatively expensive compared to traditional fill.
RE: Large fill alternatives
RE: Large fill alternatives
RE: Large fill alternatives
Steel and concrete were both used in the Big Dig and I bet you are still using both materials in your designs.
RE: Large fill alternatives
f-d
¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
RE: Large fill alternatives