Utelite expanded shale (ES) lightweight aggregate fills are approximately half the weight of common fills. This advantage, coupled with its predictable high internal friction angle, can also reduce lateral forces by more than one-half. It has been effectively used to solve numerous geotechnical engineering problems and to convert unstable soft soil into usable land. Utelite ES Lightweight fill also provides permanent non-degradable insulation around water lines and steam lines, and other thermally sensitive elements. Utelite ES is a reliable and economical geotechnical solution. For additional information on geotechnical lightweight fill, including Technical Documents and Case Studies, click here.
Uses for Geotechnical Lightweight Fill Using Utelite ES Lightweight Aggregate
- Waterfront structures
- Landscape & elevated plaza fills
- Rooftop gardens
- Bulkheads & retaining walls
- Structural repairs & rehabilitation
- Fill over poor soil & marshlands
- Insulating backfill & insulating roadbase
- Shallow foundations
- Enveloping underground conduits & pipelines for insulation or when in unstable soil conditions
- Landfill leachate drainage systems
Design Advantages
- Reduces dead loads by half
- Reduces lateral forces by half
- Provides high internal friction angle
- Controlled grading
- Free draining
- Water insoluble
- Acid insoluble
- Chemically inert
- High insulation value
- High strength and durability
- Easy to handle and install
- Readily available
- Environmentally friendly
