Mechanical behavior and strengthening mechanism of red clay solidified by xanthan gum biopolymer

Abstract

To avoid engineering diseases induced by negative geotechnical properties of red clay and to positively reduce adverse impacts on ecological environments caused by employing lots of inorganic solidified material for treating the clays, it is essential to explore low-environmental impact material to improve engineering mechanical performances of the red clay. To date, xanthan gum (XG) biopolymer is regarded as a potentially eco-friendly material with excellent pseudo-plasticity, safety, and stability. Hence, unconfined compressive strength, unconsolidated undrained shear, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction tests were performed to study the solidification effects and strengthening mechanism of XG for red clay under varied additive contents and curing period. The results indicated the optimal XG content and curing ages to increase the macro-mechanics of red clay are 1.5% and 28 d, in which the compressive strength and cohesion are increased by 93.31% and 79.47%, respectively. Further, the mathematical model is established by modifying the Duncan-Chang constitutive model and used to describe the stress–strain relationship of XG-solidified red clay, presenting preferable consistency in the calculated and trial results. The strengthening mechanism is derived from the ionic bondings between XG and red clay, producing significant effects of cementing and filling to form compact composite matrices during the microstructural evolution process.

Keywords

soil solidification / red clay / xanthan gum biopolymer / mechanical behavior / strengthening mechanism

References

[1] SinhaS, BasuA. Influence of parent lithology on field appearances and engineering properties of indurated laterites under same geographical conditions [J]. Engineering Geology, 2021, 295: 106413

[2] ZhangY-z, PuS-y, LiR Y M, et al. . Microscopic and mechanical properties of undisturbed and remoulded red clay from Guiyang, China [J]. Scientific Reports, 2020, 10(1): 1-14

[3] HuangF-m, TangC-h, JiangS-h, et al. . Influence of heavy rainfall and different slope cutting conditions on stability changes in red clay slopes: A case study in South China [J]. Environmental Earth Sciences, 2022, 81(15): 384

[4] BasuA, SinhaS. Evaluation of mechanical strength and physical properties of indurated laterite with regard to in situ characterization of lateritic profile [J]. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 2021, 8064207-4219

[5] ZhaoY-w, KongL-w, GuoA-g, et al. . Comparative laboratory study on typical red clay and expansive soil [J]. Journal of Rock Mechanics & Engineering, 2004, 23(15): 2593-2598(in Chinese)

[6] ChenL-j, ChenX-j, WangHe. Evolution of the pore characteristics of red clay under axial strain [J]. Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 2021, 58(3): 196-202

[7] XieY-h, ZhangB-h, LiuB-c, et al. . Shrinkage cracking and strength deterioration of red clay under cyclic drying and wetting [J]. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 2022, 61(3): 2574-2588

[8] KongL-w, ChenZ-han. Advancement in the techniques for special soils and slopes [J]. China Civil Engineering Journal, 2012, 45(5): 141-161(in Chinese)

[9] BakaiyangL, MadjadoumbayeJ, BoussafirY, et al. . Re-use in road construction of a Karal-type clay-rich soil from North Cameroon after a lime/cement mixed treatment using two different limes [J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2021, 15e00626

[10] MaK, LiuJ, JiangC-h, et al. . Compressive and tensile strength of polymer-based fiber composite sand [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2022, 29(2): 528-545

[11] KholghifardM, BehbahaniB A. Shear strength of clayey sand treated by nanoclay mixed with recycled polyester fiber [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2022, 29(1): 259-269

[12] LiJ-m, TangS-b, SongH-b, et al. . Engineering properties and microstructure of expansive soil treated with nanographite powder [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2022, 29(2): 499-514

[13] TanY-z, ZhengA, WuP, et al. . Effect of aggregate soil size on California bearing ratio values of laterite soil [J]. Rock and soil mechanics, 2013, 34(5): 1242-1246(in Chinese)

[14] SunilB M, NayakS, ShrihariS. Effect of pH on the geotechnical properties of laterite [J]. Engineering Geology, 2006, 85(1–2): 197-203

[15] LatifiN, HorpibulsukS, MeehanC L, et al. . Improvement of problematic soils with biopolymer—An environmentally friendly soil stabilizer [J]. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 2017, 29(2): 04016204

[16] ChenR, LeeI, ZhangL-yang. Biopolymer stabilization of mine tailings for dust control [J]. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2015, 141204014100

[17] YuanL, MaY-c, ZhangJ, et al. . Orthogonal analysis and mechanism of compressive strength and microstructure of the metakaolin-fly ash geopolymer [J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2022, 17e01154

[18] ChenC-h, XuR-c, TongD, et al. . A striking growth of CO₂ emissions from global cement industry driven by new facilities in emerging countries [J]. Environmental Research Letters, 2022, 174044007

[19] BenhelalE, ShamsaeiE, RashidM I. Challenges against CO₂ abatement strategies in cement industry: A review [J]. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2021, 10484-101

[20] MishraU C, SarsaiyaS, GuptaA. A systematic review on the impact of cement industries on the natural environment [J]. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 2022, 29(13): 18440-18451

[21] SoldoA, MiletićM, AuadM L. Biopolymers as a sustainable solution for the enhancement of soil mechanical properties [J]. Scientific Reports, 2020, 10(1): 267

[22] DubeyA A, Hooper-LewisJ, RaviK, et al. . Biopolymer-biocement composite treatment for stabilisation of soil against both current and wave erosion [J]. Acta Geotechnica, 2022, 17125391-5410

[23] ManK Y, ChunC G, KyungC M, et al. . Surface erosion behavior of biopolymer-treated river sand [J]. Geomechanics and Engineering, 2021, 25(1): 49-58

[24] DingX-h, XuG, ZhouW, et al. . Treatment of bauxite residue dust pollution by improving structural stability via application of synthetic and natural polymers [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2019, 26(2): 440-448

[25] GhasemzadehH, ModiriF, DarvishanE. A novel clean biopolymer-based additive to improve mechanical and microstructural properties of clayey soil [J]. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 2022, 24(3): 969-981

[26] ChangI, PrasidhiA K, ImJ, et al. . Soil strengthening using thermo-gelation biopolymers [J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2015, 77430-438

[27] RamachandranA L, DubeyA A, DhamiN K, et al. . Multiscale study of soil stabilization using bacterial biopolymers [J]. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2021, 147(8): 04021074

[28] WengZ-y, WangL-n, LiuQ, et al. . Improving the unconfined compressive strength of red clay by combining biopolymers with fibers [J]. Journal of Renewable Materials, 2021, 981503-1517

[29] MahamayaM, DasS K, ReddyK R, et al. . Interaction of biopolymer with dispersive geomaterial and its characterization: An eco-friendly approach for erosion control [J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021, 312127778

[30] SujathaE R, AtchayaS, SivasaranA, et al. . Enhancing the geotechnical properties of soil using xanthan gum-An eco-friendly alternative to traditional stabilizers [J]. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 2021, 80(2): 1157-1167

[31] BaraniO R, BarfarP. Effect of xanthan gum biopolymer on fracture properties of clay [J]. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 2021, 33(1): 04020426

[32] JiaP-j, KhoshghalbA, ChenC, et al. . Modified Duncan-Chang constitutive model for modeling supported excavations in granular soils [J]. International Journal of Geomechanics, 2020, 201104020211

[33] DuncanJ M, ChangC Y. Nonlinear analysis of stress and strain in soils [J]. Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, 1970, 9651629-1653

[34] ZhangL-s, ChenY, LiuX, et al. . A unified monotonic model for sand based on modified hyperbolic equation and state-dependent dilatancy [J]. Computers and Geotechnics, 2020, 128103788

[35] LiuX-q, LiuJ-k, TianY-h, et al. . Influence of the freeze-thaw effect on the Duncan-Chang model parameter for lean clay [J]. Transportation Geotechnics, 2019, 21100273

[36] NiP-p, MeiG-x, ZhaoY-lin. Influence of raised groundwater level on the stability of unsaturated soil slopes [J]. International Journal of Geomechanics, 2018, 18(12): 04018168

[37] SoldoA, AguilarV, MiletićM. Macroscopic stressstrain response and strain-localization behavior of biopolymer-treated soil [J]. Polymers, 2022, 145997

[38] ZhouB-c, KongL-w, GuoA-guo. Stress-strain-strength behaviour and constitutive description of lime-treated expansive soil [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2012, 334999-1005(in Chinese)

[39] GB/T 50123—2019. Standard for geotechnical testing method [S]. (in Chinese)

[40] GB 50007—2011. Code for design of building foundation [S]. (in Chinese)

[41] BozyigitI, JavadiA, AltunS. Strength properties of xanthan gum and guar gum treated Kaolin at different water contents [J]. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2021, 13(5): 1160-1172

[42] PetriD F S. Xanthan gum: A versatile biopolymer for biomedical and technological applications [J]. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2015, 132(23): 42035

[43] WangL, XiangD, LiC-f, et al. . Effects of deacetylation on properties and conformation of xanthan gum [J]. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2022, 345117009

[44] Anandha KumarS, SujathaE R. An appraisal of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of polysaccharides, xanthan gum, guar gum and //-glucan amended soil [J]. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2021, 265118083

[45] MuK, KongL-w, ZhangX-w, et al. . Experimental investigation on engineering behaviors of red clay under effect of wetting-drying cycles [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2016, 3782247-2253(in Chinese)

[46] KondnerR L. Hyperbolic stress - strain response: Cohesive soil [J]. Journal of the Soil Mechacics and Foundations Division, 1963, 89(1): 115-143