Soil Cementation Generated and Enhanced by Electrokinetics

Electrokinetics has been applied in geotechnical engineering, specifically in soil improvement, for nearly a century.Most engineering applications and research projects have focused on electro-osmotic consolidation generated by the negative pore water pressure, as well as settling of suspended soil solids due to electrophoresis.Although many studies have reported that significant cementation bonds have developed in soils after electrokinetic treatment, a systematic study on the subject (i.e. the mechanism and observations from field and lab experiments) has not been reported.In this review, the cementation developed in marine sediments and offshore calcareous sands is presented along with discussion of the principles of electrokinetic cementation.The study is of particular importance in earthquake engineering for development of soil improvement technologies against seismic loading, because electrokinetics generated cementation of soils may significantly reduce the risk of soil liquefaction.