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Applied Sciences
Volume 15
Issue 24
10.3390/app152413169
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Study on Distribution Law of Vertical Earth Pressure on the Top of High-Fill Box Culvert in Gully Terrain Under Expanded Polystyrene Board Unloading

by
Conglin Guo
1,2,
Zhongju Feng
1,*,
Siqi Wang
3,*,
Jikun Wang
1,
Wei Wang
4 and
Xiqing Wang
1
1
School of Highway, Chang’an University, South Second Ring Rd., Yanta District, Xi’an 710064, China
2
Shanxi Road and Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd., Taiyuan 030000, China
3
School of Energy and Architecture, Xihang University, Xi’an 710077, China
4
China Railway Fist Survey and Design Institute Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710043, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(24), 13169; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152413169
Submission received: 19 September 2025 / Revised: 16 November 2025 / Accepted: 12 December 2025 / Published: 15 December 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study quantifies vertical earth pressure on the roofs of box culverts under high fills in valley terrain using centrifuge model tests with expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam for load mitigation. We compare buried-type culverts with valley-terrain high-fill culverts and isolate the effects of the EPS installation height and panel thickness on the roof pressure and the associated concentration factor. The analysis of fill settlement elucidates the terrain-dependent load reduction mechanism and the efficacy of EPS panels. The results show that the roof pressure increases with EPS installation height but decreases and then plateaus once the panel thickness exceeds 75 cm; the load reduction benefit weakens when the installation height exceeds 2 m. Optimal performance is achieved with panels installed at 2 m and with a 75 cm thickness, which lowers applied loads while maintaining structural stability. These findings clarify soil–structure interactions in complex topography and provide practical guidance for deploying EPS in high-fill valley projects.
Keywords: gully terrain; high fill; box culvert; centrifugal model test; vertical earth pressure; load reduction; EPS board; mechanism gully terrain; high fill; box culvert; centrifugal model test; vertical earth pressure; load reduction; EPS board; mechanism

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MDPI and ACS Style

Guo, C.; Feng, Z.; Wang, S.; Wang, J.; Wang, W.; Wang, X. Study on Distribution Law of Vertical Earth Pressure on the Top of High-Fill Box Culvert in Gully Terrain Under Expanded Polystyrene Board Unloading. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 13169. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152413169

AMA Style

Guo C, Feng Z, Wang S, Wang J, Wang W, Wang X. Study on Distribution Law of Vertical Earth Pressure on the Top of High-Fill Box Culvert in Gully Terrain Under Expanded Polystyrene Board Unloading. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(24):13169. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152413169

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guo, Conglin, Zhongju Feng, Siqi Wang, Jikun Wang, Wei Wang, and Xiqing Wang. 2025. "Study on Distribution Law of Vertical Earth Pressure on the Top of High-Fill Box Culvert in Gully Terrain Under Expanded Polystyrene Board Unloading" Applied Sciences 15, no. 24: 13169. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152413169

APA Style

Guo, C., Feng, Z., Wang, S., Wang, J., Wang, W., & Wang, X. (2025). Study on Distribution Law of Vertical Earth Pressure on the Top of High-Fill Box Culvert in Gully Terrain Under Expanded Polystyrene Board Unloading. Applied Sciences, 15(24), 13169. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152413169

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