Liquefaction Resistance of Biocemented Loess Soil
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 11
Abstract
Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is currently appraised to improve sandy soils, but only a few studies use it to solidify loess soil. MICP solidification tests and undrained cyclic triaxial tests were conducted to study the liquefaction resistance of MICP-solidified loess soil samples. The results showed that because calcium carbonate () cemented loess soil particles and filled voids in samples, the permeability coefficients of treated samples all decreased. However, the change pattern of the permeability coefficient of samples treated with various conditions was different. For the solidified samples, the liquefaction resistance was improved significantly, and increased treatment cycles resulted in the improvement of the liquefaction resistance. Adding bacterial suspension and the cementation solution together made the sample with initial density of have higher liquefaction resistance. However, for samples of 1.5 and , adding bacterial suspension and the cementation solution separately also achieved better liquefaction mitigation effects. Increasing total solution volume per treatment cycle improved the liquefaction resistance of the solidified samples. With the increase of content, the number of cycles before liquefaction () and residual strength () exponentially increased, while the damping ratio () exponentially decreased. Moreover, the linear corrections between specific gravity and content, , , and can be established for MICP-solidified loess soil. In addition, significant corrections also existed between plasticity index and content, , , and . Results in this work had a great significance and provided the foundation for the application of the MICP technique for liquefaction mitigation of loess soil.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the valuable comments from the reviewers. This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51578147), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2242020R20025), and the Science and Technology Department of Ningxia (Grant No. 2020BFG02014).
References
Achal, V., and A. Mukherjee. 2015. “A review of microbial precipitation for sustainable construction.” Constr. Build. Mater. 93 (Sep): 1224–1235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.04.051.
Al Qabany, A., K. Soga, and C. Santamarina. 2011. “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.
ASTM. 2013. Standard test method for load controlled cyclic triaxial strength of soil. ASTM D5311. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Beyzaei, C. Z., J. D. Bray, M. Cubrinovski, M. Riemer, and M. Stringer. 2018. “Laboratory-based characterization of shallow silty soils in southwest Christchurch.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 110 (Jul): 93–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2018.01.046.
Boulanger, R. W., and R. F. Hayden. 1995. “Aspects of compaction grouting of liquefiable soil.” J. Geotech. Eng. 121 (12): 844–855. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1995)121:12(844).
Brown, R. E. 1977. “Vibroflotation compaction of cohesionless soils.” J. Geotech. Eng. Div. 103 (12): 1437–1451. https://doi.org/10.1061/AJGEB6.0000538.
Burbank, M., T. Weaver, R. Lewis, T. Williams, B. Williams, and R. Crawford. 2013. “Geotechnical tests of sands following bioinduced calcite precipitation catalyzed by indigenous bacteria.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 139 (6): 928–936. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000781.
Cao, Y., J. Zhou, and J. Yan. 2014. “Study of microstructures of soft clay under dynamic loading considering effect of cyclic stress ratio and frequency.” [In Chinese.] Rock Soil Mech. 2 (3): 735–743.
Cheng, X., Q. Ma, and Z. Yang. 2013. “Dynamic response of liquefiable sand foundation improved by bio-grouting.” [In Chinese.] Chin. J. Geotech. Eng. 35 (8): 1486–1495.
Cui, M., H. Lai, T. Hoang, and J. Chu. 2020. “One-phase-low-pH enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) method for soil improvement.” Acta Geotech. 16 (2): 481–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01043-2.
Cunningham, A. B., E. Lauchnor, J. Eldring, R. Esposito, A. C. Mitchell, R. Gerlach, A. J. Phillips, A. Ebigbo, and L. H. Spangler. 2013. “Abandoned well , leakage mitigation using biologically induced mineralization: Current progress and future directions.” Greenhouse Gases Sci. Technol. 3 (1): 40–49. https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1331.
Darby, K. M., G. L. Hernandez, J. T. Dejong, R. W. Boulanger, M. G. Gomez, and D. W. Wilson. 2019. “Centrifuge model testing of liquefaction mitigation via microbially induced calcite precipitation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (10): 04019084. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002122.
DeJong, J. T., M. B. Fritzges, and K. Nüsslein. 2006. “Microbially induced cementation to control sand response to undrained shear.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 132 (Apr): 1381–1392. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:11(1381).
Feng, K., and B. M. Montoya. 2017. “Quantifying level of microbial-induced cementation for cyclically loaded sand.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 143 (6): 06017005. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001682.
Ghionna, V. N., and D. Porcino. 2006. “Liquefaction resistance of undisturbed and reconstituted samples of a natural coarse sand from undrained cyclic triaxial tests.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 132 (2): 194–202. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:2(194).
Gianella, T. N., and A. W. Stuedlein. 2017. “Performance of driven displacement pile–improved ground in controlled blasting field tests.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 143 (9): 04017047. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001731.
Guo, T., and S. Prakash. 1999. “Liquefaction of silts and silt-clay mixtures.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 125 (8): 706–710. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1999)125:8(706).
Han, Z., X. Cheng, and Q. Ma. 2016. “An experimental study on dynamic response for MICP strengthening liquefiable sands.” Earthquake Eng. Eng. Vib. 15 (4): 673–679. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-016-0357-6.
Ishihara, K., S. Okusa, N. Oyagi, and A. Ischuk. 1990. “Liquefaction-induced flow slid in the collapsible loess deposit in Soviet Tajik.” Soils Found. 30 (4): 73–89. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf1972.30.4_73.
Jiang, M., H. Hu, and F. Liu. 2012. “Summary of collapsible behaviour of artificially structured loess in oedometer and triaxial wetting tests.” Can. Geotech. J. 49 (10): 1147–1157. https://doi.org/10.1139/t2012-075.
Juang, C. H., T. Dijkstra, J. Wasowski, and X. Meng. 2019. “Loess geohazards research in China: Advances and challenges for mega engineering projects.” Eng. Geol. 251 (Mar): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.01.019.
Khan, M., S. Shimazaki, and S. Kawasaki. 2016. “Coral sand solidification test through microbial calcium carbonate precipitation using Pararhodobacter sp.” Int. J. Geomate. 11 (26): 2665–2670.
Khan, M. N. H., G. G. N. N. Amarakoon, S. Shimazaki, and S. Kawasaki. 2015. “Coral sand solidification test based on microbially induced carbonate precipitation using ureolytic bacteria.” Mater. Trans. 56 (10): 1725–1732. https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.M-M2015820.
Mahawish, A., A. Bouazza, and W. P. Gates. 2018. “Effect of particle size distribution on the bio-cementation of coarse aggregates.” Acta Geotech. 13 (4): 1019–1025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-017-0604-7.
Martinez, B. C., J. T. DeJong, T. R. Ginn, and B. M. Montoya. 2013. “Experimental optimization of microbial-induced carbonate precipitation for soil improvement.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 139 (4): 587–598. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000787.
Montoya, B. M., J. T. DeJong, and R. W. Boulanger. 2013. “Dynamic response of liquefiable sand improved by microbial-induced calcite precipitation.” Géotechnique 63 (4): 302–312. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.SIP13.P.019.
Omoregie, A. I., G. Khoshdelnezamiha, N. Senian, D. E. L. Ong, and P. M. Nissom. 2017. “Experimental optimisation of various cultural conditions on urease activity for isolated Sporosarcina pasteurii strains and evaluation of their biocement potentials.” Ecol. Eng. 109 (Dec): 65–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.09.012.
Porcino, D., V. Marcianò, and R. Granata. 2011. “Undrained cyclic response of a silicate-grouted sand for liquefaction mitigation purposes.” Geomech. Geoeng. 6 (3): 155–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/17486025.2011.560287.
Prakash, S., and J. A. Sandoval. 1992. “Liquefaction of low plasticity silts.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 11 (7): 373–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/0267-7261(92)90001-T.
Salem, M., H. Elmamlouk, and S. Agaiby. 2013. “Static and cyclic behavior of North Coast calcareous sand in Egypt.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 55 (Dec): 83–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2013.09.001.
Salifu, E., E. MacLachlan, K. R. Iyer, C. W. Knapp, and A. Tarantino. 2016. “Application of microbially induced calcite precipitation in erosion mitigation and stabilisation of sandy soil foreshore slopes: A preliminary investigation.” Eng. Geol. 201 (Feb): 96–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2015.12.027.
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.
Sarmast, M., M. Farpoor, and M. Sarcheshmehpoor. 2014. “Micromorphological and biocalcification effects of Sporosarcina pasteurii and Sporosarcina ureae in sandy soil columns.” J. Agri. Sci. Technol. 16 (3): 681–693.
Sasaki, T., and R. Kuwano. 2016. “Undrained cyclic triaxial testing on sand with non-plastic fines content cemented with microbially induced .” Soils Found. 56 (3): 485–495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.04.014.
Seed, H., and I. Idriss. 1988. Ground motions and soil liquefaction during earthquake. Beijing: Seismological Press.
Seifan, M., A. K. Samani, S. Hewitt, and A. Berenjian. 2017. “The effect of cell immobilization by calcium alginate on bacterially induced calcium carbonate precipitation.” Fermentation 3 (4): 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation3040057.
Shahrokhi-Shahraki, R., S. M. A. Zomorodian, A. Niazi, and B. C. O’Kelly. 2015. “Improving sand with microbial-induced carbonate precipitation.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Ground Improv. 168 (3): 217–230. https://doi.org/10.1680/grim.14.00001.
Stocks-Fischer, S., J. K. Galinat, and S. Bang. 1999. “Microbiological precipitation of .” Soil Biol. Biochem. 31 (11): 1563–1571. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(99)00082-6.
Stuedlein, A. W., T. N. Gianella, and G. Canivan. 2016. “Densification of granular soils using conventional and drained timber displacement piles.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 142 (12): 04016075. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001554.
Sun, X., L. Miao, and R. Chen. 2019a. “Effects of different clay’s percentages on improvement of sand-clay mixtures with microbially induced calcite precipitation.” Geomicrobiol. J. 36 (9): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2019.1631912.
Sun, X., L. Miao, and R. Chen. 2020a. “The application of bio-cementation for improvement of collapsibility of loess.” Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2020 (Oct): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02974-9.
Sun, X., L. Miao, T. Tong, and C. Wang. 2018a. “Improvement of microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation technology for sand solidification.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 30 (11): 04018301. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002507.
Sun, X., L. Miao, T. Tong, and C. Wang. 2018b. “Study of the effect of temperature on microbially induced carbonate precipitation.” Acta Geotech. 14 (3): 627–638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-018-0758-y.
Sun, X., L. Miao, and C. Wang. 2019b. “Glucose addition improves the bio-remediation efficiency for crack repair.” Mater. Struct. 52 (6): 111. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-019-1410-5.
Sun, X., L. Miao, L. Wu, and R. Chen. 2019c. “Improvement of bio-cementation at low temperature based on Bacillus megaterium.” Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 103 (17): 7191–7202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-019-09986-7.
Sun, X., L. Miao, J. Yuan, H. Wang, and L. Wu. 2020b. “Application of enzymatic calcification for dust control and rainfall erosion resistance improvement.” Sci. Total Environ. 759 (Mar): 143468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143468.
Terzis, D., R. Bernier-Latmani, and L. Laloui. 2016. “Fabric characteristics and mechanical response of bio-improved sand to various treatment conditions.” Geotech. Lett. 6 (1): 50–57. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.15.00134.
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: A large scale biogrout experiment.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (12): 1721–1728. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000382.
Venuleo, S., L. Laloui, D. Terzis, T. Hueckel, and M. Hassan. 2016. “Effect of microbially induced calcite precipitation on soil thermal conductivity.” Géotechnique Lett. 6 (1): 39–44. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.15.00125.
Wang, J., L. Wang, P. Wang, Q. Wang, and M. Wei. 2011. “A study of liquefaction characteristics of saturated loess in different regions.” [In Chinese.] Hydrogeol. Eng. Geol. 38(5): 54–57.
Wang, L. 2003. Loess dynamics. Beijing: Earthquake Press.
Wang, L., Y. Wang, J. Wang, L. Li, and Z. Yuan. 2004. “The liquefaction potential of loess in China and its prevention.” In Proc., 13th World Conf. on Earthquake Engineering. Tokyo: International Association for Earthquake Engineering.
Wang, L., Z. Zhang, and L. Li. 1996. “Laboratory study on loess liquefaction.” In Proc., 11th World Conf. on Earthquake Engineering. Tokyo: International Association for Earthquake Engineering.
Wang, Q. 2019. “Seismic liquefaction behaviors of saturated loess and anti-seismic treatment methods.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou Univ.
Wang, Q., N. Li, P. Wang, P. Hou, X. Zhong, J. Wang, and H. Wang. 2017. “Behaviors of dynamic modulus and damping ratio of loess in Gannan region of Gansu Province.” [In Chinese.] Chin. J. Geotech. Eng. 39 (1): 192–197.
Wang, Q., L. M. Wang, H. M. Liu, J. Wang, and L. Dong. 2013. “Research on liquefaction characteristics of saturated undisturbed loess under different level of liquefaction.” Appl. Mech. Mater. 405 (18): 243–247. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.405-408.243.
Whiffin, V. 2004. Microbial CaCO3 precipitation for the production of biocement. Perth, Australia: Murdoch Univ.
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, Y. Xiao, A. W. Stuedlein, and T. M. Evans. 2018. “Liquefaction resistance of bio-cemented calcareous sand.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 107 (Apr): 9–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2018.01.008.
Xu, J. 2019. “Study on shear volume change and liquefaction characteristics of undisturbed loess with different grain size components.” M.Sc. thesis, Dept. of Geotechnical Engineering, Chang’an Univ.
Xu, L., and M. R. Coop. 2016. “Influence of structure on the behavior of a saturated clayey loess.” Can. Geotech. J. 53 (6): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2015-0200.
Yang, Z., C. Zhao, L. Wang, and W. Rao. 2004. “Liquefaction behaviors and steady state strength of saturated loess.” [In Chinese.] Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng. 23 (22): 3853–3860.
Zhang, S., X. Pei, S. Wang, R. Huang, X. Zhang, and Z. Chang. 2019a. “Centrifuge model testing of a loess landslide induced by rising groundwater in northwest China.” Eng. Geol. 259 (Sep): 105170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105170.
Zhang, S., X. Zhang, X. Pei, S. Wang, R. Huang, Q. Xu, and Z. Wang. 2019b. “Model test study on the hydrological mechanisms and early warning thresholds for loess fill slope failure induced by rainfall.” Eng. Geol. 258 (Aug): 105135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.05.012.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 31, 2020
Accepted: Jun 11, 2021
Published online: Aug 23, 2021
Published in print: Nov 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jan 23, 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
- Yongshuai Sun, Xinyan Zhong, Jianguo Lv, Guihe Wang, Experimental Study on Silt Soil Improved by Microbial Solidification with the Use of Lignin, Microorganisms, 10.3390/microorganisms11020281, 11, 2, (281), (2023).
- Yang Xiao, Wentao Xiao, Huanran Wu, Yi Liu, Hanlong Liu, Fracture of Interparticle MICP Bonds under Compression, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-8282, 23, 3, (2023).
- Su Li Cui, Zhi Peng Tao, Yang Zhang, Hang Su, Yang Jia, Engineering properties and microcosmic mechanism of cement stabilized diatomite, Frontiers in Earth Science, 10.3389/feart.2022.971387, 10, (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).
- Mohammad Jawed Roshan, Ahmad Safuan A Rashid, Norshakila Abdul Wahab, Sakina Tamassoki, Siti Norafida Jusoh, Muhammad Azril Hezmi, Nik Norsyahariati Nik Daud, Nazirah Mohd Apandi, Mastura Azmi, Improved methods to prevent railway embankment failure and subgrade degradation: A review, Transportation Geotechnics, 10.1016/j.trgeo.2022.100834, 37, (100834), (2022).
- Hengxing Wang, Xiaohao Sun, Linchang Miao, Ziming Cao, Guangcai Fan, Linyu Wu, Induced CaCO3 mineral formation based on enzymatical calcification for bioremediation under different pressure conditions, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 10.1016/j.petrol.2022.110787, 216, (110787), (2022).
- Héctor Zúñiga-Barra, Javiera Toledo-Alarcón, Álvaro Torres-Aravena, Lorena Jorquera, Mariella Rivas, Leopoldo Gutiérrez, David Jeison, Improving the sustainable management of mining tailings through microbially induced calcite precipitation: A review, Minerals Engineering, 10.1016/j.mineng.2022.107855, 189, (107855), (2022).
- See more