A Systematic Study on the Influence of Grain Characteristics on Hydraulic and Mechanical Performance of MICP-Treated Porous Media

Konstantinou, Charalampos1,2; Wang, Yuze3,4; Biscontin, Giovanna1

2023-02-01

10.1007/s11242-023-01909-5

TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA   Impact Factor & Quartile

0169-3913

1573-1634

The bio-cementation of sands (microbially induced carbonate precipitation) is an emerging technique that could broaden the horizons in the sectors of hydraulics, hydrology and geo-environmental engineering. It has been used extensively to increase the strength of sands and for controlled permeability reduction. This study focuses on the choice of base materials and presents an extensive program to generate materials with various combinations of properties and assess the effects of grain shape, size and spread of particle size distributions on permeability, unconfined compressive strength and porosity. Better strength enhancement and more controlled permeability reduction is achieved for bio-treated specimens with a moderate number of particle-to-particle contacts (D-50 = 180-890 mu m). Results showed that the grain size has the greatest impact on both strength and permeability with very small (D-50 = 110 mu m) or very large grains (D-50 = 1810 mu m) not being effective in terms of strength enhancement and permeability control. The higher the uniformity coefficient of the base material is (D-60/D-10 from 1.4 to 5.6), the greater the effects on the mechanical properties are because of the narrower pore space and the higher number of contact points between particles. Materials with higher uniformity coefficients and larger grain sizes (i.e., D-60/D-10 = 5.6, D-50 = 2454 mu m) provide more controlled strength enhancement and permeability reduction. The particle shape either angular, subrounded, or spherical does not affect much the resulting mechanical properties as long as the grain sizes fall within a region compatible to the bacterial size (D-50 = 180 and 890 mu m).

MICP performance Grain characteristics Particle size distribution Permeability Porosity Strength

SCI

English

Corresponding

Natural Science Foundation of China["52171262","42141003"] ; Science and Technology Innovation Committee of Shenzhen[JCYJ20210324103812033] ; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)[K19313901]

Engineering

Engineering, Chemical

WOS:000929985900002

SPRINGER

CHEMISTRY

Web of Science

1.Univ Cambridge, Dept Engn, Cambridge, England
2.Univ Cyprus, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Nicosia, Cyprus
3.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Ocean Sci & Engn, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
4.Southern Marine Sci & Engn Guangdong Lab Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Peoples R China

Konstantinou, Charalampos,Wang, Yuze,Biscontin, Giovanna. A Systematic Study on the Influence of Grain Characteristics on Hydraulic and Mechanical Performance of MICP-Treated Porous Media[J]. TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA,2023.

Konstantinou, Charalampos,Wang, Yuze,&Biscontin, Giovanna.(2023).A Systematic Study on the Influence of Grain Characteristics on Hydraulic and Mechanical Performance of MICP-Treated Porous Media.TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA.

Konstantinou, Charalampos,et al."A Systematic Study on the Influence of Grain Characteristics on Hydraulic and Mechanical Performance of MICP-Treated Porous Media".TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA (2023).