COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NEW GEOMATERIALS AND EMBANKMENT CONSTRUCTION METHODS CONSIDERING RECYCLING
Keywords:
Life Cycle Assessment, Lightweight Geomaterial Mixed with Expanded Polystyrene Beads, Expanded Polystyrene Construction Method, Foamed Waste Glass Construction Method, Life Cycle CostAbstract
The cutting and embankment construction method may cause grand subsidence or landside at a
location with soft ground or risk of landsides. A construction method employing a new composite geomaterial
using expanded polystyrene is effective for construction at such a location because of its light weight and
workability. However, there is not much research reported on the use such new materials with examples of
constructions using these materials. This study aimed to understand the problems associated with the use of the
new geomaterials and determine how they can be improved by analyzing various environmental loads and life
cycle costs that in various embankment construction methods in consideration of whether new geomaterials are
used and waste materials are recycled. Four different methods were compared with respect to their
environmental impact and cost. The research demonstrated the possibility of reducing environmental loads and
life cycle costs by employing recycling in various embankment constructions methods.
