Time dependent viscoelastic behaviour of Eps geofoam

A series of laboratory tests was carried out to assess the time-dependent creep behaviour of EPS geofoam at room temperature (23°C) and at 40°C. The experimental data were then used to calibrate and to validate mechanical viscoelastic models along with an empirical Power Law model, at these two temperatures. The viscoelastic models examined were the 3-element (Maxwell-Kelvin), the 4-element (Burgers) and the Modified 4-element models. The modified 4-element model and the base case, the empirical power law model, were found to give the best predictions. As anticipated, the experimental results show that creep rate is higher at elevated temperatures. The results, at 23°C and 40°C, offer a means to assess and model creep behavior in geotechnical applications at normal, and at a practical elevated, temperature where use of EPS geofoam in warmer climate may be a concern.