Development of Erosion Functions for Florida Beach Sand Treated with Bioslurry

Abstract

In recent years, “Bioslurry” was developed as a variant on traditional recipes for microbially-induced calcite precipitation (MICP). Using Bioslurry, several beach sand specimens from Atlantic Beach, FL, were treated using surface percolation. Treatment yielded specimens that appeared to develop strong “crusts” where the soil particles adhered together to some depth. Below this depth, apparent calcification was lower, and adherence was not observed. Piston-style erosion rate testing was used to approximate the erosion functions associated with both the treated specimens’ “crusts” and portions of the treated specimens that were “below the crust” in depth. Data were compared with erosion function data from untreated specimens. Results appeared to show that erosion resistance “below the crust” was increased when compared to untreated specimens, but that the increase in erosion resistance was relatively low. On the other hand, data suggested that the erosion resistance of the “crusts” was several orders of magnitude higher than the erosion resistance associated with untreated specimens. These data were used to approximate expected erosion during typical worst-case storm conditions in Florida (i.e., a hurricane) and suggested that the erosion resistance may be sufficient to prevent shoreline erosion during such storms.