Shear and Tensile Strength Measurements of Cemented Bonds between Glass Beads Treated by Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 1
Abstract
The particle-scale shear and tensile strength measurements of microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) treatment have been investigated in this paper. Glass beads were used to represent sand particles. Three particle-scale test setups were developed to measure the tensile, shear, and cyclic shear strength of MICP-treated bonds between glass beads. Sporosarcina pasteurii bacterial cells were introduced to precipitate and form cementation bonds between glass beads. The preliminary particle-scale test (Test setup 1) was designed to measure the shear and tensile strength of bonds precipitated between glass beads mounted on optical fiber sensors with known properties. Shear and tension loads were applied to the bonds by the displacement actuators controlling the movement of movable stages. The improved particle-scale test setup (Test setup 2) was developed using a larger and stable reaction chamber, an automated injecting system, and stiff bending elements (instead of optical fibers) that were connected to glass beads to improve measurements. Deflections of the bending elements were measured to calculate the tensile and shear strength of the bonds using the beam theory. The enhanced particle-scale test setup (Test setup 3) was developed to directly measure the shear and tensile forces generated in bonds using load cells and LVDTs to investigate the monotonic and cyclic response of the bonds. For the tests using Test setup 3, the shear and tensile strengths were 378 and 446 kPa, respectively.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Raw data were generated at Lehigh Geotechnical Engineering Testing facility. Derived data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on request.
Acknowledgments
The work was made possible by an NPRP 819292766, a grant from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of the Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
References
Al Qabany, A., K. Soga, and C. Santamarina. 2012. “Factors affecting efficiency of microbially induced calcite percipitation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 138 (8): 992–1001. https://doi.org/10.1016/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000666.
Bibi, S., M. Oualha, M. Ashfaq, M. T. Suleiman, and N. Zouari. 2018. “Isolation, differentiation and biodiversity of ureolytic bacteria of Qatari soil and their potentials in microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) for soil stabilization.” RSC Adv. 2018 (11): 5854–5863. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RA12758H.
Bozkurt, M. G., D. Fratta, and W. J. Likos. 2017. “Capillary forces between equally sized moving glass beads: An experimental study.” Can. Geotech. J. 54 (9): 1300–1309. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0213.
Cheng, C. C., Y. L. Lo, B. S. Pun, Y. M. Chang, and W. Y. Li. 2005. “An investigation of bonding-layer characteristics of substrate-bonded fiber Bragg grating.” J. Lightwave Technol. 23 (11): 3907. https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2005.856235.
Cheshomi, A., S. Mansouri, and M. A. Amoozegar. 2018. “Improving the shear strength of quartz sand using the microbial method.” Geomicrobiol. J. 35 (9): 749–756. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2018.1462868.
Chou, C. W., E. A. Seagren, A. H. Aydilek, and M. Lai. 2011. “Biocalcification of sand through ureolysis.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 137 (12): 1179–1189. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000532.
Cole, D. M., and J. F. Peters. 2008. “Grain-scale mechanics of geologic materials and lunar simulants under normal loading.” Granular Matter 10 (3): 171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-007-0066-y.
Cole, D. M., D. B. Ringelberg, and C. M. Reynolds. 2012. “Small-scale mechanical properties of biopolymers.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 138 (9): 1063–1074. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000680.
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.
De Bresser, J. H. P., and C. J. Spiers. 1997. “Strength characteristics of the r, f, and c slip systems in calcite.” Tectonophysics 272 (1): 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-1951(96)00273-9.
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 (11): 1381–1392. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:11(1381).
DeJong, J. T., B. M. Mortensen, B. C. Martinez, and D. C. Nelson. 2010. “Bio-mediated soil improvement.” Ecol. Eng. 36 (2): 197–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2008.12.029.
Evans, T. M., A. Khoubani, and B. M. Montoya. 2015. “Simulating mechanical response in bio-cemented sands.” In Proc., 14th Int. Conf. of International Association for Computer Methods and Recent Advances in Geomechanics, 2014 (IACMAG 2014): Computer Methods and Recent Advances in Geomechanics, 1569–1574. Oxfordshire, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Feng, K., and B. M. Montoya. 2016. “Influence of confinement and cementation level on the behavior of microbial-induced calcite precipitated sands under monotonic drained loading.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 142 (1): 04015057. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001379.
Feng, K., B. M. Montoya, and T. M. Evans. 2017. “Discrete element method simulations of bio-cemented sands.” Comput. Geotech. 85: 139–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2016.12.028.
Ferris, F. G., L. G. Stehmeier, A. Kantzas, and F. M. Mourits. 1996. “Bacteriogenic mineral plugging.” J. Can. Pet. Technol. 35 (8): 56–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.105959.
Fujita, Y., J. L. Taylor, T. L. Gresham, M. E. Delwiche, F. S. Colwell, T. L. McLing, L. M. Petzke, and R. W. Smith. 2008. “Stimulation of microbial urea hydrolysis in groundwater to enhance calcite precipitation.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (8): 3025–3032. https://doi.org/10.1021/es702643g.
Gu, J., M. T. Suleiman, H. Bastola, D. G. Brown, and N. Zouari. 2018. “Treatment of sand using microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) for wind erosion application.” In Proc., IFCEE 2018, 155–164. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Hall, C. A., G. Hernandez, K. M. Darby, L. van Paassen Jr., J. DeJong, and D. Wilson. 2018. “Centrifuge model testing of liquefaction mitigation via denitrification-induced desaturation.” In Geotechnical earthquake engineering and soil dynamics v: Liquefaction triggering, consequences, and mitigation, 117–126. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Ham, S. M., A. Martinez, G. Han, and T. H. Kwon. 2022. “Grain-scale tensile and shear strengths of glass beads cemented by MICP.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 148 (9): 04022068. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002863.
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.
Hill, K. O., and G. Meltz. 1997. “Fiber Bragg grating technology fundamentals and overview.” J. Lightwave Technol. 15 (8): 1263–1276. https://doi.org/10.1109/50.618320.
Ivanov, V., and J. Chu. 2008. “Applications of microorganisms to geotechnical engineering for bioclogging and biocementation of soil in situ.” Rev. Environ. Sci. Biotechnol. 7 (2): 139–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-007-9126-3.
Jiang, N. J., and K. Soga. 2017. “The applicability of microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) for internal erosion control in gravel–sand mixtures.” Géotechnique 67 (1): 42–55. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.15.P.182.
Kavazanjian, E., Jr., E. Iglesias, and I. Karatas. 2009. “Biopolymer soil stabilization for wind erosion control.” In Vol. 2 of Proc., 17th Int. Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 881–884. London: International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Kunitake, M. E., L. M. Mangano, J. M. Peloquin, S. P. Baker, and L. A. Estroff. 2013. “Evaluation of strengthening mechanisms in calcite single crystals from mollusk shells.” Acta Biomater. 9 (2): 5353–5359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2012.09.030.
Lin, H., M. T. Suleiman, and D. G. Brown. 2020. “Investigation of pore-scale CaCO3 distributions and their effects on stiffness and permeability of sands treated by microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP).” Soils Found. 60 (4): 944–961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2020.07.003.
Lin, H., M. T. Suleiman, D. G. Brown, and E. Kavazanjian Jr. 2016. “Mechanical behavior of sands treated by microbially induced carbonate precipitation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 142 (2): 04015066. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001383.
Lin, H., M. T. Suleiman, J. Helm, and D. G. Brown. 2014. “Measurement of bonding strength between glass beads treated by microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP).” In Proc., Geo-Congress 2014: Geo-characterization and Modeling for Sustainability, 1625–1634. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Liu, L., H. Liu, A. W. Stuedlein, T. M. Evans, and Y. Xiao. 2019. “Strength, stiffness, and microstructure characteristics of biocemented calcareous sand.” Can. Geotech. J. 56 (10): 1502–1513. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2018-0007.
Liu, L., H. Liu, Y. Xiao, J. Chu, P. Xiao, and Y. Wang. 2018. “Biocementation of calcareous sand using soluble calcium derived from calcareous sand.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ. 77 (4): 1781–1791. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1106-4.
Lombardi, S. A., G. D. Chon, J. J. W. Lee, H. A. Lane, and K. T. Paynter. 2013. “Shell hardness and compressive strength of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and the Asian oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis.” Biol. Bull. 225 (3): 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1086/BBLv225n3p175.
Martinez, B. C., and J. T. DeJong. 2009. “Bio-mediated soil improvement: Load transfer mechanisms at the micro-and macro-scales.” In Advances in ground improvement: Research to practice in the United States and China, 242–251. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Montoya, B., and K. Feng. 2015. “Deformation of microbial induced calcite bonded sands: A micro-scale investigation.” In Deformation characteristics of geomaterials, 978–985. Amsterdam, Netherlands: IOS Press.
Montoya, B. M., and J. T. DeJong. 2015. “Stress-strain behavior of sands cemented by microbially induced calcite precipitation.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 141 (6): 04015019. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001302.
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.
Montoya, B. M., J. T. DeJong, and R. W. Boulanger. 2014. “Dynamic response of liquefiable sand improved by microbial-induced calcite precipitation.” In Proc., Bio-and Chemo-Mechanical Processes in Geotechnical Engineering: Géotechnique Symp. in Print 2013, 125–135. London: ICE Publishing.
Mortensen, B. M., and J. T. DeJong. 2011. Strength and stiffness of MICP treated sand subjected to various stress paths. In Geo-Frontiers 2011: Advances in geotechnical engineering, 4012–4020. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Mujah, D., M. A. Shahin, and L. Cheng. 2017. “State-of-the-art review of biocementation by microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) for soil stabilization.” Geomicrobiol. J. 34 (6): 524–537. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2016.1225866.
Nafisi, A., D. Mocelin, B. M. Montoya, and S. Underwood. 2019a. “Tensile strength of microbially induced carbonate precipitation treated sands.” Can. Geotech. J. 57 (10): 1611–1616.
Nafisi, A., S. Safavizadeh, and B. M. Montoya. 2019b. “Influence of microbe and enzyme-induced treatments on cemented sand shear response.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (9): 06019008. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002111.
O’Donnell, S. T., and E. Kavazanjian Jr. 2015. “Stiffness and dilatancy improvements in uncemented sands treated through MICP.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 141 (11): 02815004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001407.
Oualha, M., S. Bibi, M. T. Sulaiman, and Z. Zouari. 2020. “Microbially induced calcite precipitation in calcareous soils by endogenous Bacillus cereus, at high pH and harsh weather.” J. Environ. Manage. 257: 109965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109965.
Pamukcu, S., and M. Turel. 2007. “Use of BOTDR to measure distributed strains of geosynthetics.” In Proc., GRI, 20: Geosynthetics 2007. Folsom, PA: Geosynthetic Institute.
Rasband, W. S. 1997. ImageJ software. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health.
Weil, M. H., J. T. DeJong, B. C. Martinez, and B. M. Mortensen. 2012. “Seismic and resistivity measurements for real-time monitoring of microbially induced calcite precipitation in sand.” Geotech. Test. J. 35 (2): 330–341.
Yang, P., E. Kavazanjian, and N. Neithalath. 2019. “Particle-Scale mechanisms in undrained triaxial compression of biocemented sands: Insights from 3D DEM simulations with flexible boundary.” Int. J. Geomech. 19 (4): 04019009. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001346.
Yang, P., S. O’Donnell, N. Hamdan, E. Kavazanjian, and N. Neithalath. 2017. “3D DEM simulations of drained triaxial compression of sand strengthened using microbially induced carbonate precipitation.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (6): 04016143. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000848.
Zamani, A., and B. M. Montoya. 2017. “Shearing and hydraulic behavior of MICP treated silty sand.” In Geotechnical Frontiers 2017, 290–299. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Zamani, A., and B. M. Montoya. 2018. “Undrained monotonic shear response of MICP-treated silty sands.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 144 (6): 04018029. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001861.
Zhang, X., Y. Chen, H. Liu, Z. Zhang, and X. Ding. 2020. “Performance evaluation of a MICP-treated calcareous sandy foundation using shake table tests.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 129 (Feb): 105959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.105959.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 7, 2021
Accepted: Aug 2, 2022
Published online: Oct 18, 2022
Published in print: Jan 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Mar 18, 2023
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
- Hai Lin, Yi Dong, Joon Soo Park, Brina M. Montoya, Cementation Stress Characteristic Curve for Sands Treated by Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-11403, 149, 12, (2023).
- Yang Xiao, Hanghang Zhao, Huanran Wu, Xiang Jiang, Hanlong Liu, Anisotropic Fracture of Sandstone with Biotreated Cracks, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-8821, 23, 8, (2023).
- Yang Xiao, Bingyang Wu, Jinquan Shi, Lei Wang, Han-Long Liu, Acoustic Emission of Biocemented Calcareous Sand Base, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-8817, 23, 9, (2023).
- Ray Harran, Dimitrios Terzis, Lyesse Laloui, Mechanics, Modeling, and Upscaling of Biocemented Soils: A Review of Breakthroughs and Challenges, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-8446, 23, 9, (2023).