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Assessment of strength and low-strain shear modulus of bio-cemented sand considering MICP treatment

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Abstract

Bio-cementation of natural sand is a prospective solution to improve their engineering properties. The enhancement of strength and low-strain shear modulus is considered to be of high engineering significance for improvement in the performance of sand under both static and dynamic loading. In the present study, bio-cementation effects of bacillus Sporosarcina pasteurii bacteria on standard Ennore sand of India are studied at the microstructure level through scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigation considering microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) technique. The crystallographic structure of the bio-cemented sand is reported through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Stress–strain behaviour and improvement in the strength of bio-cemented sand with different pore volumes of cementation solution have been investigated through unconfined compression strength (UCS) testing. Finally, the shear wave velocity values of the bio-cemented sand are assessed through bender element testing for different confining pressures, and low-strain shear modulus values have arrived. The study is believed to be helpful in the quantification of improvement of strength and low-strain shear modulus values of bio-cemented sand.

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Acknowledgements

The first author acknowledges the financial support provided by MHRD, Govt. of India. The second author acknowledges Coal India Limited for providing financial assistance for the research (Project No. CIL/R&D/01/73/2021). The third author acknowledges the financial support provided by Coal India Limited.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826004, India

    Nilanjana Banik, Rajib Sarkar & Md Emad Uddin

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  1. Nilanjana Banik
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  2. Rajib Sarkar
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NB was responsible for the collection of materials, finalization of methodology, laboratory testing, analyses of data, and writing the manuscript. RS was responsible for conceptualization, finalization of methodology, supervision, manuscript review, and editing. MEU was majorly responsible for working on laboratory testing. All three authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Rajib Sarkar.

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Banik, N., Sarkar, R. & Uddin, M.E. Assessment of strength and low-strain shear modulus of bio-cemented sand considering MICP treatment. Environ Earth Sci 82, 98 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-10780-y

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