Triaxial compression test of MICP sand column and simulation of failure process

Abstract

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology can induce calcium carbonate crystals with cementation and stable performance in the process of microbial metabolism or enzymization through the regulation of environmental factors MICP can be used as a cementing agent to cement cohesionless sand particles to form the materials with the characteristics of higher strength, better durability and environmental friendliness, as well as a good engineering application prospect. In this paper, the shear strength of sand column was tested by triaxial compression tests, and the strength index was obtained. In order to further study the micro-strength mechanism and the failure process, based on the discrete element method, a numerical model of MICP cemented sand column was established considering the factors of matrix soil particle gradation, particle morphology, content ratio of induced calcium carbonate, pore distribution characteristics, inter-particle cementation and so on. The failure process of MICP cemented sand column under load was analysed by numerical simulation, and the reliability of the numerical model was tested by combining with the stress intensity curve of samples under test conditions. The results indicate that compared with the actual triaxial tests of MICP cemented sand column, although there are deviations in stress and strain, cohesion and internal friction angle, the numerical simulation shows similar development law and intensity amplitude, and the same failure trend. The work in this paper verifies the reliability of the numerical model and provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent analysis of the factors influencing the geotechnical mechanical properties of biomineralized materials.

Keywords

Biotreated geomaterial / Microbially induced calcite precipitation / Triaxial compression / Consolidated sand / Particle Flow Code(PFC) simulation / Failure mechanism

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 12002173, 12262027), Research start-up project of Inner Mongolia University of Technology (No.2200000924), key Lab. of University of Geological Hazards and Geotechnical Engineering Defense in Sandy and Drought Regions, Inner Mongolia Autonomous.

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