Lateral Responses of a Model Pile in Biocemented Sand
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 21, Issue 11
Abstract
This technical note aims to investigate the effects of biotreatment on the response of a concrete model pile embedded in poorly graded sand through lateral loading tests. The bending moment profiles along pile length were obtained from strain gauges collected during the pile load tests. The pile deflection and soil resistance were derived from a bending moment profile based on beam theory. The ultimate lateral resistance of the pile with biotreatment was 2.6 times as large as that without biotreatment. The bending moment for the pile in biotreated soil is significantly smaller than that for the pile in untreated soil due to the reduction in curvature. The spatial distribution of calcium carbonate generated during the biotreatment was obtained from 1,800 sand samples, which was also validated by the scanning electron microscope images. Biotreatment of sand surrounding a pile is demonstrated to be a promising measure to effectively improve the lateral capacity of the pile.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the National Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41831282, 51922024, and 52078085). Dr. T. Matthew Evans was supported by the US National Science Foundation (Grant No. CMMI-1933355) during this work. This support is gratefully acknowledged.
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- D
- pile diameter;
- E
- Young's modulus the pile;
- M
- bending moment in pile;
- I
- area moment of inertia of the pile cross section;
- Δε(z)
- difference between the tensile and compressive strain in a pile cross section at depth z; and
- ϕ(z)
- curvature.
References
Achal, V., A. Mukherjee, D. Kumari, and Q. Zhang. 2015. “Biomineralization for sustainable construction—A review of processes and applications.” Earth Sci. Rev. 148: 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2015.05.008.
Al Qabany, A., K. Soga, and C. Santamarina. 2012. “Factors affecting efficiency of microbially induced calcite precipitation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 138 (8): 992–1001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000666.
Ashour, M., G. Norris, and P. Pilling. 1998. “Lateral loading of a pile in layered soil using the strain wedge model.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 124 (4): 303–315. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1998)124:4(303).
ASTM. 2006. Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (Unified Soil Classification System). ASTM D2487-06. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2013. Standard test methods for deep foundations under lateral load. ASTM D3966/D3966M-07(2013)e1. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2016. Standard test method for flexural strength of concrete (using simple beam with center-point loading). ASTM C293/C293M-16. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Bienen, B., J. Duhrkop, J. Grabe, M. F. Randolph, and D. J. White. 2012. “Response of piles with wings to monotonic and cyclic lateral loading in sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 138 (3): 364–375. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000592.
Chen, Y.-J., S.-W. Lin, and F. H. Kulhawy. 2011. “Evaluation of lateral interpretation criteria for rigid drilled shafts.” Can. Geotech. J. 48 (4): 634–643. https://doi.org/10.1139/t10-094.
Cheng, L., R. Cord-Ruwisch, and M. A. Shahin. 2013. “Cementation of sand soil by microbially induced calcite precipitation at various degrees of saturation.” Can. Geotech. J. 50 (1): 81–90. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2012-0023.
DeJong, J. T., et al. 2013. “Biogeochemical processes and geotechnical applications: Progress, opportunities and challenges.” Géotechnique 63 (4): 287–301. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.SIP13.P.017.
Faro, V. P., N. C. Consoli, F. Schnaid, A. Thome, and L. da Silva Lopes. 2015. “Field tests on laterally loaded rigid piles in cement treated soils.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 141 (6): 06015003. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001296.
Feng, K., and B. M. Montoya. 2016. “Influence of confinement and cementation level on the behavior of microbial-induced calcite precipitated sands under monotonic drained loading.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 142 (1): 04015057. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001379.
Gomez, M. G., C. M. Anderson, C. M. R. Graddy, J. T. DeJong, D. C. Nelson, and T. R. Ginn. 2017. “Large-scale comparison of bioaugmentation and biostimulation approaches for biocementation of sands.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 143 (5): 04016124. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001640.
Han, F., M. Prezzi, and R. Salgado. 2017. “Energy-based solutions for nondisplacement piles subjected to lateral loads.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (11): 04017104. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001012.
Kang, X., L. Ge, and W. C. Liao. 2016. “Cement hydration-based micromechanics modeling of the time-dependent small-strain stiffness of fly ash-stabilized soils.” Int. J. Geomech. 16 (3): 04015071. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000552.
Kashizadeh, E., A. Mukherjee, and A. Tordesillas. 2021. “Experimental and numerical investigations on confined granular systems stabilized by bacterial cementation.” Int. J. Geomech. 21 (1): 04020244. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001891.
Knappett, J. A., and S. P. G. Madabhushi. 2009. “Influence of axial load on lateral pile response in liquefiable soils. Part I: Physical modelling.” Géotechnique 59 (7): 571–581. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.8.009.3749.
Li, Q., A. W. Stuedlein, and A. Marinucci. 2019. “Effect of casing and high-strength reinforcement on the lateral load transfer characteristics of drilled shaft foundations.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (9): 04019056. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002116.
Lin, H., M. T. Suleiman, H. M. Jabbour, and D. G. Brown. 2018. “Bio-grouting to enhance axial pull-out response of pervious concrete ground improvement piles.” Can. Geotech. J. 55 (1): 119–130. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0438.
Lin, H., M. T. Suleiman, H. M. Jabbour, D. G. Brown, and E. Kavazanjian, Jr. 2016. “Enhancing the axial compression response of pervious concrete ground improvement piles using biogrouting.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 142 (10): 04016045. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001515.
Liu, L., H. Liu, A. W. Stuedlein, T. M. Evans, and Y. Xiao. 2019. “Strength, stiffness, and microstructure characteristics of biocemented calcareous sand.” Can. Geotech. J. 56 (10): 1502–1513. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2018-0007.
Ma, G., X. He, X. Jiang, H. Liu, J. Chu, and Y. Xiao. 2021. “Strength and permeability of bentonite-assisted biocemented coarse sand.” Can. Geotech. J. 58 (7): 969–981. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2020-0045.
Mahawish, A., A. Bouazza, and W. P. Gates. 2019. “Unconfined compressive strength and visualization of the microstructure of coarse sand subjected to different biocementation levels.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (8): 04019033. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002066.
Meyerhof, G. G., S. K. Mathur, and A. J. Valsangkar. 1981. “Lateral resistance and deflection of rigid walls and piles in layered soils.” Can. Geotech. J. 18 (2): 159–170. https://doi.org/10.1139/t81-021.
Montoya, B. M., and J. T. DeJong. 2015. “Stress–strain behavior of sands cemented by microbially induced calcite precipitation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 141 (6): 04015019. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001302.
Nafisi, A., B. M. Montoya, and T. M. Evans. 2020. “Shear strength envelopes of biocemented sands with varying particle size and cementation level.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 146 (3): 04020002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002201.
Nasr, A. M. A. 2014. “Experimental and theoretical studies of laterally loaded finned piles in sand.” Can. Geotech. J. 51 (4): 381–393. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2013-0012.
Rahimi, M., D. Chan, and A. Nouri. 2016. “Bounding surface constitutive model for cemented sand under monotonic loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 16 (2): 04015049. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000534.
Randolph, M. F. 1981. “The response of flexible piles to lateral loading.” Géotechnique 31 (2): 247–259. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1981.31.2.247.
Rollins, K. M., M. Herbst, M. Adsero, and D. Brown. 2010a. “Jet grouting and soil mixing for increased lateral pile group resistance.” In GeoFlorida 2010: Advances in Analysis, Modeling & Design, Geotechnical Special Publication 199, edited by D. O. Fratta, A. J. Puppala, and B. Muhunthan, 1563–1572. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Rollins, K. M., J. L. Snyder, and J. M. Walsh. 2010b. “Increased lateral resistance of pile group in clay using compacted fill.” In GeoFlorida 2010: Advances in Analysis, Modeling & Design, Geotechnical Special Publication 199, edited by D. O. Fratta, A. J. Puppala, and B. Muhunthan, 1602–1611. Reston, VA: ASCE.
San Pablo, A. C. M., et al. 2020. “Meter-scale biocementation experiments to advance process control and reduce impacts: Examining spatial control, ammonium by-product removal, and chemical reductions.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 146 (11): 04020125. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002377.
Stone, K. J. L., H. S. Arshi, and L. Zdravkovic. 2018. “Use of a bearing plate to enhance the lateral capacity of monopiles in sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 144 (8): 04018051. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001913.
van Paassen, L. A., R. Ghose, T. J. M. van der Linden, W. R. L. van der Star, and M. C. M. van Loosdrecht. 2010. “Quantifying biomediated ground improvement by ureolysis: Large-scale biogrout experiment.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (12): 1721–1728. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000382.
Whiffin, V. S., L. A. van Paassen, and M. P. Harkes. 2007. “Microbial carbonate precipitation as a soil improvement technique.” Geomicrobiol. J. 24 (5): 417–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490450701436505.
Xiao, P., H. Liu, A. W. Stuedlein, T. M. Evans, and Y. Xiao. 2019a. “Effect of relative density and biocementation on cyclic response of calcareous sand.” Can. Geotech. J. 56 (12): 1849–1862. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2018-0573.
Xiao, Y., H. Chen, A. W. Stuedlein, T. M. Evans, J. Chu, L. Cheng, N. Jiang, H. Lin, H. Liu, and H. M. Aboel-Naga. 2020a. “Restraint of particle breakage by biotreatment method.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 146 (11): 04020123. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002384.
Xiao, Y., X. He, T. M. Evans, A. W. Stuedlein, and H. Liu. 2019b. “Unconfined compressive and splitting tensile strength of basalt fiber-reinforced biocemented sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (9): 04019048. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002108.
Xiao, Y., A. W. Stuedlein, Z. Pan, H. Liu, T. M. Evans, X. He, H. Lin, J. Chu, and L. A. van Paassen. 2020b. “Toe-bearing capacity of precast concrete piles through biogrouting improvement.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 146 (12): 06020026. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002404.
Xiao, Y., Y. Wang, C. S. Desai, X. Jiang, and H. Liu. 2019c. “Strength and deformation responses of biocemented sands using a temperature-controlled method.” Int. J. Geomech. 19 (11): 04019120. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001497.
Yang, P., E. Kavazanjian, and N. Neithalath. 2019. “Particle-scale mechanisms in undrained triaxial compression of biocemented sands: Insights from 3D DEM simulations with flexible boundary.” Int. J. Geomech. 19 (4): 04019009. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001346.
Yang, P., S. O’Donnell, N. Hamdan, E. Kavazanjian, and N. Neithalath. 2017. “3D DEM simulations of drained triaxial compression of sand strengthened using microbially induced carbonate precipitation.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (6): 04016143. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000848.
Yu, G. M., W. M. Gong, Y. C. Liu, G. L. Dai, and M. H. Chen. 2018. “Lateral capacity of pile with grouted upper soil: Field test and numerical simulation.” Innov. Infrastruct. Solutions 3 (1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-017-0104-5.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 21 • Issue 11 • November 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 14, 2021
Accepted: Jun 26, 2021
Published online: Aug 26, 2021
Published in print: Nov 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jan 26, 2022
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Aoxi Zhang, Anne-Catherine Dieudonné, Effects of carbonate distribution pattern on the mechanical behaviour of bio-cemented sands: A DEM study, Computers and Geotechnics, 10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.105152, 154, (105152), (2023).
- Jianwei Zhang, Yue Yin, Lei Shi, Hanliang Bian, Wanpeng Shi, Experimental investigation on mechanical behavior of sands treated by enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation with assistance of sisal-fiber nucleation, Frontiers in Earth Science, 10.3389/feart.2022.992474, 10, (2022).
- MinQiang MENG, Yang XIAO, ZengChun SUN, ZhiChao ZHANG, Xiang JIANG, HanLong LIU, Xiang HE, HuanRan WU, JinQuan SHI, Recent progress on crushing-strength-energy dissipation of coarse granular soil and biocementation at contacts, SCIENTIA SINICA Technologica, 10.1360/SST-2021-0387, 52, 7, (999-1021), (2022).
- Guoliang Ma, Xiang He, Yang Xiao, Jian Chu, Liang Cheng, Hanlong Liu, Influence of bacterial suspension type on the strength of biocemented sand, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 10.1139/cgj-2021-0295, 59, 11, (2014-2021), (2022).
- Yang Xiao, Xiang He, Musharraf Zaman, Guoliang Ma, Chang Zhao, Review of Strength Improvements of Biocemented Soils, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0002565, 22, 11, (2022).
- Jingwu Zhang, Mingdong Li, Jinxiang Yi, Zhidan Liu, Determination of Stabilizing Forces Acting on Piles to Reinforce Slurry Trench against Globe Collapse, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0002387, 22, 6, (2022).
- Yang Xiao, Wentao Xiao, Guoliang Ma, Xiang He, Huanran Wu, Jinquan Shi, Mechanical Performance of Biotreated Sandy Road Bases, Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0001671, 36, 1, (2022).
- Yang Xiao, Guoliang Ma, Huanran Wu, Huaming Lu, Musharraf Zaman, Rainfall-Induced Erosion of Biocemented Graded Slopes, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0002239, 22, 1, (2021).