Sustainable Improvement of the Crack Resistance of Cohesive Soils

Michael Z. Izzo and Marta Miletić
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Michael Z. Izzo: Department of Civil Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Marta Miletić: Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182, USA

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: Desiccation cracking of cohesive soils is the development of cracks on the soil surface as a result of a reduction in the soil moisture content. The decrease in soil surface area owing to the desiccation of cohesive soils has an undesirable impact on the mechanical, hydrological, thermal, and physico-chemical properties. Many efforts have been made to improve the desiccation crack resistance of cohesive soils, but the current solutions raise a number of environmental issues, increasing the demand for sustainable soil improvement alternatives. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate novel eco-friendly soil improvement techniques, such as recycled carpet fibers and a gelatin-based bioplastic, and their effect on desiccation cracking in cohesive soils. The improvement of soil crack resistance was studied by conducting desiccation cracking tests on plain and improved soils. In addition, image processing was conducted to quantitatively describe the effect of soil improvement type on the geometrical characteristics of crack patterns. Each soil improvement technique enhanced the soil strength and reduced cracking at room temperature, at an elevated temperature, and when subjecting to cyclic wetting and drying. The addition of bioplastics proved to be the most effective solution, thus demonstrating a viable option to advance future sustainable engineering practices.

Keywords: sustainable materials; ground improvement; image analysis; desiccation cracking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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