page_title: Geofoam
section_title: Slope stabilization
hierarchical_section_title: Geofoam / Applications / Slope stabilization
caption_attribution_description: English: Landslide of an embankment Deutsch: Böschungsbruch, Erdrutsch an einer Böschung
context_page_description: Geofoam is expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene manufactured into large lightweight blocks. The blocks vary in size but are often 2 m × 0.75 m × 0.75 m. The primary function of geofoam is to provide a lightweight void fill below a highway, bridge approach, embankment or parking lot. EPS Geofoam minimizes settlement on underground utilities. Geofoam is also used in much broader applications, including lightweight fill, green roof fill, compressible inclusions, thermal insulation, and drainage.
  Geofoam shares principles with geocombs which has been defined as "any manufactured material created by an extrusion process that results in a final product that consists of numerous open-ended tubes that are glued, bonded, fused or otherwise bundled together." The cross-sectional geometry of an individual tube typically has a simple geometric shape and is on the order of 25 mm across. The overall cross-section of the assemblage of bundled tubes resembles a honeycomb that gives it its name. Presently, only rigid polymers have been used as geocomb material.
context_section_description: Slope stabilization is the use of geofoam in order to reduce the mass and gravitational force in an area that may be subject to failure, such as a landslide. Geofoam is up to 50 times lighter than other traditional fills with similar compressive strengths. This allows geofoam to maximize the available right-of-way on an embankment. Geofoam's light weight and ease of installation reduces construction time and labor costs.
caption: Landslide
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