An experimental research on the effect of biopolymers and nano materials on cohesive soil

Abstract

Cohesive soils are extensively distributed worldwide and are a source of great damage to infrastructure and buildings. In order to minimize the undesirable properties and make them suitable for construction purposes, many new approaches are now being developed to improve the strength of cohesive soils. In addition to traditional methods, availability of new materials have promoted the field of soil improvement. Addition of biopolymers and nano materials are the recently developed innovative ideas in the field of soil stabilisation. Microbial induced polymers or biopolymers are introduced in soil stabilisation with the aim of less environmental pollution. Nano technology in geotechnical engineering can be seen in two ways such as, the structure of the soil is seen at nano scale and the manipulation of soil is done at atomic and molecular scale. This study deals with the feasibility of stabilising cohesive soil with biopolymers and nano materials and to analyse the change in geotechnical properties. Guar gum powder and nano magnesium powder is added to soil at varying percentage (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%) and tests were carried out to determine the optimum percentage and strength characteristics of additives.