Biologically Inspired Silicification Process for Improving Mechanical Properties of Sand
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 10
Abstract
A new type of ground treatment method is developed to improve the engineering properties of coarse-grained soils. By using biochemical concepts derived from recent discoveries into how organisms produce silicified skeletons, a silicification process is reported that offers environmental and physical advantages over some traditional methods by using nontoxic, commercially available components with a low potential for adverse environmental effects. Silicification begins by first pretreating the soil with a commercially available cationic polyelectrolyte, which is then followed by injecting a mixture of commercial sodium silicate and buffer. The silicification solutions have a pH of 5.0–5.5, weakly acidic values that are within the range of surface soil environments in temperate weathering regions. Gel time is regulated by the sodium silicate or polyelectrolyte concentration. The compressive strengths are measured as a function of polyelectrolyte type and concentration by using samples of Ottawa sand silicified with a 20% sodium silicate by volume. Unconfined compressive strengths range from 150 to 198 kPa and are shown to be equal to or higher than soils treated at similar silicate concentrations with traditional and alternative formulations. Drained triaxial compression test results show that silicification improves strength and initial stiffness and increases the amount of volume change attributable to dilation. In principle, the methods developed in this paper for coarse-grained soils are also applicable to fractured rock and to fine-grained soils. Developing materials and processes for ground treatment by using inspiration from biological systems offers the promise of improved geomechanical performance, lower embodied energy, and lower cost than current treatment methods.
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Acknowledgments
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. NSFCMS-0726488 and NSFEAR-0545166. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 10 • October 2011
Pages: 949 - 957
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 9, 2010
Accepted: Dec 20, 2010
Published online: Dec 22, 2010
Published in print: Oct 1, 2011
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