Experimental Study on Sand Stabilization Using Bio-Cementation with Wastepaper Fiber Integration

Recently, green materials and technologies have received considerable attention in geotechnical engineering. One of such techniques is microbially-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP). In the MICP process, CaCO<sub>3</sub> is achieved bio-chemically within the soil, thus enhancing the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Meiqi Chen, Sivakumar Gowthaman, Kazunori Nakashima, Shin Komatsu, Satoru Kawasaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/18/5164
Description
Summary:Recently, green materials and technologies have received considerable attention in geotechnical engineering. One of such techniques is microbially-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP). In the MICP process, CaCO<sub>3</sub> is achieved bio-chemically within the soil, thus enhancing the strength and stiffness. The purpose of this study is to introduce the wastepaper fiber (WPF) onto the MICP (i) to study the mechanical properties of MICP-treated sand with varying WPF content (0–8%) and (ii) to assess the freeze–thaw (FT) durability of the treated samples. Findings revealed that the ductility of the treated samples increases with the increase in WPF addition, while the highest UCS is found with a small fiber addition. The results of CaCO<sub>3</sub> content suggest that the WPF addition enhances the immobilization of the bacteria cells, thus yielding the precipitation content. However, shear wave velocity analysis indicates that a higher addition of WPF results in rapid deterioration of the samples when subjected to freeze–thaw cycles. Microscale analysis illuminates that fiber clusters replace the solid bonding at particle contacts, leading to reduced resistance to freeze–thaw damage. Overall, the study demonstrates that as a waste material, WPF could be sustainably reused in the bio-cementation.
ISSN:1996-1944