Optimizing the Compressive Strength of Sodium Alginate-Modified EICP-Treated Sand Using Design of Experiments
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 4
Abstract
Biological soil improvement techniques, such as enzyme-induced calcium precipitation (EICP), have attracted increasing attention as a sustainable and durable solution for ground improvement. However, recent life-cycle environmental assessment studies of EICP ground improvement have shown that enzyme stabilizers such as nonfat milk powder have a significant environmental impact. Hence, this study explores the potential of using sustainable biopolymer [sodium alginate (SA)] as a modifier in EICP cementing solution. The interaction effect between different EICP cementing solution constituents (calcium chloride, urease enzyme, urea, and SA) on the performance of sand-treated specimens is investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM), a design of experiments (DOE) approach, is utilized to design the testing program. In addition, RSM is adopted to model the effect of different constituents on the performance of EICP-treated soils. An optimal mix is suggested for the EICP-SA modified cementing solution with a maximum unconfined compressive strength of 1,762 kPa, compared with 460 kPa of the EICP-milk treated specimens. Moreover, the practical considerations of the SA-modified EICP solution are investigated through scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and water retention. Notably, the study demonstrated that SA-modified EICP specimens have superior water retention characteristics compared with regular EICP-treated soils due to the inclusion of SA in the EICP solution. Additionally, a set of durability tests revealed the promising performance of the SA-modified EICP-treated specimens under wetting–drying cycles, with results complying with ASTM standards. These findings suggest that the SA-modified EICP approach offers a potent and environmentally friendly alternative for soil stabilization and improvement.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the University of Sharjah (UoS), under Grant No. 19020401130. The authors are grateful for this support. Any opinions or positions expressed in this article are the authors only and do not reflect the opinions or positions of the UoS.
Author contributions: Conceptualization, Mohamed G. Arab; methodology, Mohamed G. Arab and Mohamed Refaei; software, Mohamed Refaei, Salah Haridy, and Emran Alotaibi; validation, Mohamed G. Arab, Mohamed Refaei, Salah Haridy, and Emran Alotaibi; formal analysis, Mohamed G. Arab, Mohamed Refaei, and Emran Alotaibi; investigation, Mohamed G. Arab, Mohamed Refaei, Emran Alotaibi, and Salah Haridy; resources, Mohamed G. Arab and Maher Omar; data curation, Mohamed Refaei; writing and original draft preparation, Abdallah Almajed, Mohamed G. Arab, Emran Alotaibi, and Mohamed Refaei; writing, review, and editing, Abdallah Almajed, Mohamed G. Arab, Emran Alotaibi, Salah Haridy, and Mohamed Refaei; visualization, Mohamed Refaei and Emran Alotaibi; supervision, Mohamed G. Arab and Maher Omar; project administration, Mohamed G. Arab and Maher Omar; and funding acquisition, Mohamed G. Arab and Maher Omar.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 4 • April 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 31, 2023
Accepted: Sep 20, 2023
Published online: Jan 23, 2024
Published in print: Apr 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jun 23, 2024
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