The Effect of Using Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Geofoam as A Fill Material on Soft Soil on Settlement and Changes in The Groundwater Table: A Case Study of The Eastern Coastal Area of Langsa City, Aceh Province

Authors

  • Nanik Handayani Universitas Samudra
  • Marini Bravikawati Universitas Samudra
  • Ipak Neneng Mardiah Bukit Universitas Samudra

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59141/jrssem.v6i2.1688

Keywords:

EPS Geofoam, Soft Soil, Settlement, Groundwater Table, Consolidation

Abstract

Soft soil deposits commonly found in the eastern coastal area of Langsa City, Aceh Province, are characterized by low bearing capacity, high compressibility, and shallow groundwater levels, which may cause excessive settlement under conventional embankment loading. One alternative solution is the application of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) geofoam as a lightweight embankment material. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of EPS geofoam on settlement reduction and groundwater table behavior in soft subgrade soils in the eastern coastal area of Langsa City. The research was conducted through a literature review, geotechnical data collection, laboratory parameter evaluation, and numerical modeling using the Finite Element Method (FEM) implemented in PLAXIS 2D. Two embankment scenarios were analyzed: a conventional soil embankment and an EPS geofoam embankment. The evaluated parameters included vertical deformation, stress distribution, excess pore water pressure, slope safety factor, and groundwater table changes associated with soil consolidation. The results indicated that EPS geofoam reduced embankment loading by more than 95% compared with conventional fill, resulting in substantially lower settlement. In addition, excess pore water pressure generated during loading was significantly reduced, leading to a slower consolidation process. EPS geofoam did not directly alter the groundwater table elevation; however, it minimized relative groundwater level changes by reducing surface settlement. Therefore, EPS geofoam was considered an effective lightweight embankment solution for road infrastructure constructed on soft coastal soils in the eastern coastal region of Langsa City.

Downloads

Published

2026-09-18

How to Cite

Handayani, N., Bravikawati , M., & Bukit , I. N. M. (2026). The Effect of Using Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Geofoam as A Fill Material on Soft Soil on Settlement and Changes in The Groundwater Table: A Case Study of The Eastern Coastal Area of Langsa City, Aceh Province. Journal Research of Social Science, Economics, and Management, 6(2), 1100–1110. https://doi.org/10.59141/jrssem.v6i2.1688

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2026): Journal Research of Social Science, Economics, and Management (Issue in Progres)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Nanik Handayani, Marini Bravikawati , Ipak Neneng Mardiah Bukit

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  • Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.