Improving Mechanical Properties of Sand Using Biopolymers

AbstractNatural polymers (biopolymers) are discussed as environmentally friendly and sustainable grouting chemicals. This paper presents guidelines for selecting potentially useful biopolymers for strengthening cohesionless soil. Agar and six modified starches were identified for further study over...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering Vol. 139; no. 8; pp. 1402 - 1406
Main Authors Khatami, Hamid Reza, O’Kelly, Brendan C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01.08.2013
Subjects
Applied sciences
Buildings. Public works
Exact sciences and technology
Geotechnics
Stabilization. Consolidation
Strength of materials (elasticity, plasticity, buckling, etc.)
Structural analysis. Stresses
Technical Notes
Sand
Mechanical properties
Shear strength
Polymer
Compressive strength
Triaxial test
Cohesionless soils
Ground improvement
Experimental result
Soil stabilization
Granular soil
Biopolymer
Stiffness
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Summary:AbstractNatural polymers (biopolymers) are discussed as environmentally friendly and sustainable grouting chemicals. This paper presents guidelines for selecting potentially useful biopolymers for strengthening cohesionless soil. Agar and six modified starches were identified for further study over a range of concentrations (1–4% agar and 0.5–1% starch). Experimental results demonstrated the compatibility of agar and starch. Depending on the biopolymer concentration, the unconfined compressive strength of the sand treated with agar and starch biopolymers ranged from 158 to 487 kPa. Triaxial compression tests over a range of confining pressures also indicated that the biopolymers effectively increased the cohesion intercept and stiffness of the treated sand.
ISSN:1090-0241
1943-5606
DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000861