Quantifying Biomediated Ground Improvement by Ureolysis: Large-Scale Biogrout Experiment
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 12
Abstract
Biogrouting is a biological ground improvement method, in which microorganisms are used to induce carbonate precipitation in the subsurface in order to increase the strength and stiffness of granular soils. In this paper the results of a large-scale experiment are presented, in which the feasibility of biogrouting as a ground improvement method is investigated using techniques and equipment similar to those used in potential applications. In situ geophysical measurements were used to monitor the biogrouting process during treatment and indicated that the stiffness had increased significantly after one day of treatment. The results of unconfined compressive strength tests on samples which were excavated after treatment were used to assess the distribution of mechanical properties throughout the cemented sand body, which correlated quite well with the results of the in situ geophysical measurements. The stiffness increase could be quantified as a function of the injected volume of grouting agents and the distance from the injection points. These results will serve as an important benchmark for future applications of biomediated ground improvement.
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Acknowledgments
This work is performed jointly by Deltares, VWS Geotechniek/Volker Staal en Funderingen, and Delft University of Technology, in close collaboration with Soletanche Bachy and financially supported by Senter Novem (Ministry of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands). The writers would like to thank in particular Derk van Ree (Deltares) and Annette Esnault (Soletanche-Bachy) for reviewing the manuscript and Gerard van Zwieten and the VSF crew members for the work in Papendrecht.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 12 • December 2010
Pages: 1721 - 1728
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 24, 2009
Accepted: Apr 29, 2010
Published online: Aug 4, 2010
Published in print: Dec 2010
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