Effect of Static Loading States on the Compressional Behavior of Foam Glass Aggregate

Abstract

In this study, two groups of foam glass aggregate (FGA) samples were prepared with four different compaction ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) and subjected to a series of static compressional loads from 50kPa to 300kPa with 50kPa interval. In first group of the test (changed load samples, ChLS), for each static load value, a new sample was prepared and tested. In the other group of the test (continuously loaded samples, CLS), all prescribed static compressional loads were sequentially applied over the same sample after satisfying the required strain rate at each load. The results revealed that the overall vertical strain values of CLS were lower than ChLS except for 10%, which shows reverse behavior. For both sample types, the required time to reach the desired vertical strain rate was much higher when the compaction ratio was low, and the compressional load was above 250 kPa. The compaction methodology used in the present study led to more reliable vertical strain values for both short- and long-term loading periods compared to other reported results executed on FGA under the same static compressional load circumstances. The evolution in the particle distribution curve of FGA particles after maximum compaction ratio (40%) was nonsignificant compared to the study works that depended on traditional standard test methods of compaction and led to severe change in particles structural component. The current findings beneficially affect civil engineering applications using FGA by defining the material's final strain values when subjected to static compressional loads at different compaction ratios.