Foundation Model Study on Inorganic and Biopolymer Nano Additives Treated Soil—A Step Forward in Nano Additive Soil Stabilization

Govindarajan Kannan, Evangelin Ramani Sujatha (), Jair de Jesús Arrieta Baldovino and Yamid E. Nuñez de la Rosa ()
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Govindarajan Kannan: Department of Civil Engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi 626005, Tamil Nadu, India
Evangelin Ramani Sujatha: Centre for Advanced Research in Environment, School of Civil Engineering, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur 613401, Tamil Nadu, India
Jair de Jesús Arrieta Baldovino: Civil Engineering Program, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130015, Colombia
Yamid E. Nuñez de la Rosa: Faculty of Engineering and Basic Sciences, Fundación Universitaria Los Libertadores, Bogota 110231, Colombia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-16

Abstract: For almost a decade, various studies have been carried out to prove the suitability of nano additives in enhancing the geotechnical properties of soil. Yet, this line of research is still in its elementary stage, restricting itself to laboratory tests to determine soil’s index and engineering properties blended with varying dosages of nano additives. In other words, research on practical applications of nano additives for soil stabilization is scarce. The present work attempts to investigate the suitability of three different nanomaterials as a load-bearing stratum for shallow foundations. The nano additives were chosen in such a way that each of them is from a different origin. One of them is nano calcium carbonate (inorganic) whereas the other two are nano-sized varieties of natural biopolymers, namely nano chitosan (crustacean-based) and nano carboxymethyl cellulose (plant-based). A series of laboratory tests were initially conducted to determine the strength of all three nano-additive-treated soils at different dosages, which were investigated for 180 days to ensure their long-term performance. This was followed by a foundation model study on untreated soil and on soil treated with optimal dosages of nano additives. The results were validated using finite element software followed by a parametric study to optimize the depth of soil stabilization. It was observed that all three nano additives exhibited a better performance when the top layer had the optimal dosage and the subsequent layers had a relatively lesser dosage.

Keywords: nanomaterials; sustainable materials; biopolymers; soil properties; strength; model study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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