Study on the Strength Characteristics of Biopolymer on Kaolinite Clay
- January 5, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue XII, December 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705
Study on the Strength Characteristics of Biopolymer on Kaolinite Clay
Arya Vijayan1, Veena Vijayan. L2
1Student, Geotechnical Engineering, St. Thomas Institute for Science and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
2Assistant Professor, Geotechnical Engineering, St. Thomas Institute for Science and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
Abstract: The benefit from mixing admixtures in soil to enhance properties was discovered in ancient times. Additives such as straw, bitumen, lime, cement etc are using to improve the properties of soil from the past days. As an alternative to such traditional soil treatment and improvement techniques, biological approaches are recently developed in the field of soil stabilisation. This paper investigate the benefits of using biopolymer to enhance the engineering properties of kaolinite clay. Guar gum which is an environmental friendly biopolymer was mixed with kaolinite clay at different concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75 %, 1 % ) and the effect on different engineering properties were determined.
Key words: Ground improvement, guar gum, kaolinite clay, UCC, CBR.
I. INTRODUCTION
The modification or stabilisation of engineering properties of soil is recognised by engineers as an important process for improving the performance of problematic soils and makes marginal soils to perform better as a construction material. A number of modification techniques has been identified in this field. Admixtures such as straw, bitumen, salts are conventional additives to soil, while cement, petrochemicals etc are being increasingly used as an effort to stabilise the soil from mechanical and chemical aspects.
The use of conventional materials may lead to environmental degradation. As a part of environmental sustainability biological approaches are now being actively introduced in the field of geotechnical engineering with the aim of less environmental pollution.
Microbial induced polymers or biopolymers have been introduced as a new innovative idea for soil improvemet. natural biopolymers are environmental friendly and a sustainable grouting chemicals.
