Study on Liquefaction-Resistance Performance of MICP-Cemented Sands: Applying Centrifuge Shake Table Tests
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 8
Abstract
Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an emerging in situ grouting technology for sand ground improvement, slope stability, and subgrade reinforcement, featuring rapid implementation and low energy consumption. The precipitated calcium carbonate crystals can rapidly fill and cement sand particles so as to form a new soil structure that effectively reduces liquefaction sensitivity and dynamic damage. The centrifuge shake table test is an effective method for simulating liquefaction of sandy soil layers under shear wave excitation. Many studies have been conducted on this topic in recent years. However, the study on dynamic response, especially the liquefaction resistance of MICP-cemented sands by centrifuge shake table tests, is rare. In order to investigate the cementation effect of microbial treatment, centrifuge shake table tests were performed on two models, i.e., untreated and MICP cemented sand model. The test results indicated that, compared with untreated sand model, the liquefaction resistance of the MICP model was significantly improved in terms of acceleration response, shear stiffness, stress–strain relationship, and ground surface settlement. This study contributes to a better understanding of the mechanical law in the liquefaction process and enriches the engineering application of microbial grouting treatment of sand foundation prone to liquefaction.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U19A2049, 42177454, 31670516) and Science and Technology Achievements Transformation Foundation of IWHR (Grant No. GE121003A0022022).
References
Chou, H. S., C. Y. Yang, B. J. Hsieh, and S. S. Chang. 2001. “A study of liquefaction related damages on shield tunnels.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 16 (3): 185–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0886-7798(01)00057-8.
Al Qabany, A., and K. Soga. 2013. “Effect of chemical treatment used in MICP on engineering properties of cemented soils.” Géotechnique 63 (4): 331–339. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.SIP13.P.022.
Al Qabany, A., K. Soga, and C. Santamarina. 2012. “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.
Arpajirakul, S., W. Pungrasmi, and S. Likitlersuang. 2021. “Efficiency of microbially-induced calcite precipitation in natural clays for ground improvement.” Constr. Build. Mater. 282 (3): 122722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122722.
Brennan, A., N. I. Thusyanthan, and S. P. Madabhushi. 2005. “Evaluation of shear modulus and damping in dynamic centrifuge tests.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 131 (12): 1488–1497. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2005)131:12(1488).
Cheng, L., R. Cord-Ruwisch, and M. A. Shahin. 2013a. “Cementation of sand soil by microbially induced calcite precipitation at various degrees of saturation.” Can. Geotech. J. 50 (1): 81–90. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2012-0023.
Cheng, X.-H., Q. Ma, Z. Yang, Z.-C. Zhang, and M. Li. 2013b. “Dynamic response of liquefiable sand foundation improved by bio-grouting.” Chin. J. Geotech. Eng. 35 (8): 1486–1495.
Chinese Standard. 2019. Specification of soil test. [In Chinese.] GB/T50123-2019. Beijing: China Water & Power Press.
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. “Microbial 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.
Escoffier, S. 2011. Seismic and sinusoidal tests on pile group. Marne-la-Vallée, France: French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks.
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., 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.
Gallagher, P. M., and J. K. Mitchell. 2002. “Influence of colloidal silica grout on liquefaction potential and cyclic undrained behavior of loose sand.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 22 (9–12): 1017–1026. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0267-7261(02)00126-4.
Gebru, K. A., T. G. Kidanemariam, and T. K. Gebretinsae. 2021. “Bio-cement production using microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) method: A review.” Chem. Eng. Sci. 238 (Jul): 116610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2021.116610.
Han, Z., X. Cheng, and Q. Ma. 2016. “An experimental study on dynamic response for MICP strengthening liquefiable sands.” Earthquake Eng. Eng. Vibr. 15 (4): 673–679. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-016-0357-6.
Han, Z., J. Xiao, and Y. Wei. 2022. “Spatial distribution characteristics of microbial mineralization in saturated sand centrifuge shaking table test.” Materials 15 (17): 6102. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15176102.
Lee, M., G. M. Gomez, M. E. Kortbawi, and K. Ziotopoulou. 2022. “Effect of light biocementation on the liquefaction triggering and post-triggering behavior of loose sands.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 148 (1): 04021170. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002707.
Li, Z., S. Escoffier, and P. Kotronis. 2013. “Using centrifuge tests data to identify the dynamic soil properties: Application to Fontainebleau sand.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 52 (Sep): 77–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2013.05.004.
Lin, H., M. T. Suleiman, and D. G. Brown. 2020. “Investigation of pore-scale 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.
Madlool, N. A., R. Saidur, M. S. Hossain, and N. A. Rahim. 2011. “A critical review on energy use and savings in the cement industries.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 15 (4): 2042–2060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.01.005.
Marín, S., O. Cabestrero, C. Demergasso, S. Olivares, V. Zetola, and M. Vera. 2021. “An indigenous bacterium with enhanced performance of microbially-induced Ca-carbonate biomineralization under extreme alkaline conditions for concrete and soil-improvement industries.” Acta Biomater. 120 (Jan): 304–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2020.11.016.
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.
Nemati, M., E. A. Greene, and G. Voordouw. 2005. “Permeability profile modification using bacterially formed calcium carbonate: Comparison with enzymic option.” Process Biochem. 40 (2): 925–933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2004.02.019.
Ng, W.-S., M.-L. Lee, and S.-L. Hii. 2012. “An overview of the factors affecting microbial-induced calcite precipitation and its potential application in soil improvement.” World Acad. Sci. Eng. Technol. 6 (2): 188–194.
Okwadha, G. D., and J. Li. 2010. “Optimum conditions for microbial carbonate precipitation.” Chemosphere 81 (9): 1143–1148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.09.066.
Pablo, A. C. M. S., J. T. DeJong, and T. J. Carey. 2023. “Centrifuge tests to investigate the effect of MICP treatment zone on foundation system performance.” In Geo-Congress 2023: Geotechnics of Natural Hazards, Geotechnical Special Publication 338, edited by E. Rathje, B. M. Montoya, and M. H. Wayne, 110–120. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Peng, J., Z. L. Wen, Z. M. Liu, Y. C. Sun, Q. P. Feng, and J. He. 2019. “Experimental research on MICP-treated organic clay.” Chin. J. Geotech. Eng. 41 (4): 733–740. https://doi.org/10.11779/CJGE201904017.
Rayhani, M. H. T., and M. H. El Naggar. 2008. “Dynamic properties of soft clay and loose sand from seismic centrifuge tests.” Geotech. Geol. Eng. 26 (5): 593–602. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-008-9192-5.
She, C. G. 2001. “Analysis of ground layer liquefaction in Nanjing north-south line.” Urban Mass Transit 3 (3): 38–42.
Soon, N. W., L. M. Lee, T. C. Khun, and H. S. Ling. 2013. “Improvements in engineering properties of soils through microbial-induced calcite precipitation.” KSCE J. Civ. Eng. 17 (May): 718–728. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-013-0149-8.
Stevens, D., D. Wilson, K. Bruce, K. Byoungill, and E. Ahmed. 2001. “Centrifuge model tests to identify dynamic properties of dense sand for site response calculations.” In Proc., 4th Int. Conf. on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics, 42. Columbia, MO: Univ. of Missouri.
van Paassen, L. A., C. M. Daza, M. Staal, D. Y. Sorokin, W. van der Zon, and M. C. van Loosdrecht. 2010. “Potential soil reinforcement by biological denitrification.” Ecol. Eng. 36 (2): 168–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.03.026.
Wang, Y., M. Xu, X. Lv, Z. Wen, and C. Chen. 2023. “The eco-efficiency evaluation in China’s cement industry: A city-level study.” Sci. Total Environ. 865 (Mar): 161132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161132.
Wath, R. B., and S. S. Pusadkar. 2019. “Soil improvement using microbial: A review.” In Vol. 14 of Proc., Ground Improvement Techniques and Geosynthetics, edited by T. Thyagaraj. Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0559-7_37.
Xiao, J. Z., Y. Q. Wei, H. Cai, Z. W. Wang, T. Yang, Q. H. Wang, and S. F. Wu. 2020. “Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation for strengthening soft clay.” Adv. Mater. Sci. Eng. 2020 (Apr): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8140724.
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.
Yin, J., J.-X. Wu, K. Zhang, M. A. Shahin, and L. Cheng. 2023. “Comparison between MICP-based bio-cementation versus traditional portland cementation for oil-contaminated soil stabilisation.” Sustainability 15 (1): 434. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010434.
Yuan, X. M., et al. 2009. “Preliminary research on liquefaction characteristics of Wenchuan 8.0 earthquake.” Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng. 28 (6): 1288–1296.
Yuan, X. M., and Z. Z. Cao. 2011. “Fundamental method and formula for evaluation of liquefaction of gravel soil.” Chin. J. Geotech. Eng. 33 (4): 509–519.
Zamani, A., P. Xiao, T. Baumer, T. J. Carey, B. Sawyer, J. T. DeJong, and R. W. Boulanger. 2021. “Mitigation of liquefaction triggering and foundation settlement by MICP treatment.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 147 (10): 04021099. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002596.
Zeghal, M., and A.-W. Elgamal. 1994. “Analysis of site liquefaction using earthquake records.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 120 (6): 996–1017. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1994)120:6(996).
Zhou, Y., Y. Chen, and D. Ling. 2009. “Shear wave velocity-based liquefaction evaluation in the great Wenchuan earthquake: A preliminary case study.” Earthquake Eng. Eng. Vibr. 8 (2): 231–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-009-9049-9.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 8 • August 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 16, 2023
Accepted: Feb 14, 2024
Published online: May 17, 2024
Published in print: Aug 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Oct 17, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- [Inorganic compounds]
- Calcium carbonate
- Centrifuges
- Chemicals
- Chemistry
- Construction engineering
- Construction equipment
- Construction methods
- Engineering fundamentals
- Environmental engineering
- Equipment and machinery
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Grouting
- Laboratory tests
- Organic compounds
- Pollution
- Shake table tests
- Soil dynamics
- Soil grouting
- Soil liquefaction
- Soil mechanics
- Soil pollution
- Soil properties
- Soil stabilization
- Soil treatment
- Tests (by type)
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.