Field Trials of Microbially Induced Desaturation in Low-Plasticity Silt
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 11
Abstract
Field trials of microbially induced desaturation (MID) were conducted at two sites in Portland, Oregon underlain by liquefiable fine-grained soils. MID is an emerging method for mitigating the potential for triggering liquefaction. MID treatment stimulates native denitrifying microbes with a solution containing nitrate, as well as other substrates and nutrients. An end product of the denitrification reactions is nitrogen gas, which displaces soil porewater and in turn reduces the in situ degree of saturation (). Because during cyclic loading desaturated soils produce less excess porewater pressure than saturated soils, MID can mitigate the potential for triggering liquefaction. Monitoring for the two field trials was performed to evaluate the MID treatment performance and the associated subsurface desaturation. Monitoring data included seismic wave velocities measured with crosshole and downhole techniques, embedded in situ moisture and electrical conductivity sensors, water chemistry measurements, and recovery and testing of samples for changes in soil properties. Monitoring data were collected pretreatment, during treatment, and post-treatment, and then interpreted to evaluate the effectiveness of MID for reducing in fine grained, low plasticity silts in the two distinct sites. Despite geotechnical site characterization data that show the field trial sites have distinct geotechnical characteristics, including interbedding, that affect liquefaction susceptibility and MID treatment application, results indicate liquefiable soil at both sites was successfully desaturated and that the desaturation persisted for at least 92 days post-treatment.
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Data Availability Statement
Data generated or used during the study are available through DesignSafe in accordance with National Science Foundation (NSF) data retention policies. The link can be found in the References entry for Zhang et al. (2020).
Acknowledgments
Funding for this research was provided by the NSF (Awards CMMI-1935670 and 1935774). Additional support was provided through the NSF Engineering Research Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (under NSF Award ERC-1449501) and NSF-supported National Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure equipment facility at the University of Texas at Austin (under NSF Award CMMI-1520808). 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 NSF. This work was possible through partnerships with Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Condon Johnson & Associates, ConeTec, Portland General Electric, the City of Portland, Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Water Bureau, and Geosyntec Consultants. Valuable project support was provided by Melissa Boell and Max Miller through an NSF REU Supplement (under Award CMMI-2006832), and Daniel Stuart.
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Received: Apr 24, 2021
Accepted: May 26, 2022
Published online: Aug 30, 2022
Published in print: Nov 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jan 30, 2023
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