Triaxial Shear Behavior And Microstructure Of Microbially Treated Sand Specimens

Year 2023, , 1675 - 1682, 01.12.2023

Ayşe Özdoğan Dölçek

https://doi.org/10.2339/politeknik.986565

Abstract

The use of bacteria induced calcite cementation for ground improvement presents a relatively new option for geotechnical engineers, one that has the potential to revolutionize the way that we improve soils to prevent liquefaction-induced damage. This technique uses non-pathogenic organisms which are found naturally in the soil environment to cement sand particles together at their particle-to-particle contacts. There is significant potential for a reduction in environmental concerns on various types of projects; in the long-term, this technique may also prove to be an extremely sustainable form of ground improvement. Consequently, the goal of the research described herein is to enhance the state-of-the-art with respect to our understanding of controlling biological cementation processes in soil. Bio-treatment of sand specimens was performed using a commonly encountered urea-producing soil microorganism called Sporosarcina Pasteurii (ATCC-6453). Microorganisms that were suspended in solution were introduced to the soil, and over time the microorganisms were supplied with necessary nutrients via cycling with a peristaltic pump. After bio-treatment, the specimens were back pressure saturated, isotropically consolidated, and sheared under undrained conditions. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging was performed to examine the soil microstructure over a range of specimen curing periods to assess the nature of any cementitious bonds that may have formed.

Keywords

biocementation, shear strength of sand, ground improvement

Thanks

The author thanks Prof. Christopher L. Meehan for his valuable advisory and guidance during the study. The author would like to thank the Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI) at the University of Delaware for providing soil microstructure analysis using a scanning electron microscope. The author would also like to thank the Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education for her educational support.

Mikrobiyolojik Yöntemle Çimentolanmış Kum Örneginin Üç Eksenli Kesme Davranışı Ve Mikroyapısının Incelenmesi

Abstract

The use of bacteria induced calcite cementation for ground improvement presents a relatively new option for geotechnical engineers, one that has the potential to revolutionize the way that we improve soils to prevent liquefaction-induced damage. This technique uses non-pathogenic organisms which are found naturally in the soil environment to cement sand particles together at their particle-to-particle contacts. There is significant potential for a reduction in environmental concerns on various types of projects; in the long-term, this technique may also prove to be an extremely sustainable form of ground improvement. Consequently, the goal of the research described herein is to enhance the state-of-the-art with respect to our understanding of controlling biological cementation processes in soil. Bio-treatment of sand specimens was performed using a commonly encountered urea-producing soil microorganism called Sporosarcina Pasteurii (ATCC-6453). Microorganisms that were suspended in solution were introduced to the soil, and over time the microorganisms were supplied with necessary nutrients via cycling with a peristaltic pump. After bio-treatment, the specimens were back pressure saturated, isotropically consolidated, and sheared under undrained conditions. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging was performed to examine the soil microstructure over a range of specimen curing periods to assess the nature of any cementitious bonds that may have formed.

Keywords

biocementation, shear strength of sand, ground improvement

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