详情

Use of Biocementation for Slope Stabilization of Levees

项目名称：	Use of Biocementation for Slope Stabilization of Levees
摘要：	While levee embankments are the first line of defense for urban flooding, recent flooding events have revealed widespread slope instability of embankments around the country that can lead to levee failures. This work aimed to improve the slope stability of earthen levees by strengthening the soil through the use of a biologically-inspired technique called biocementation. The major objective of this study was to determine the optimal and most practical biocementation method that results in the best performance of levee slopes under various flooding conditions. A novel biocementation method called bacterial enzyme-induced calcite precipitation (BEICP) was tested. This method differs from the well-studied microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) method mainly in the size of the biological agent (whole bacterial cell vs. enzyme), which influences the agent�s mobility in soils of different grain sizes. The BEICP methods for soil strengthening were optimized in laboratory-scale column experiments. The optimized methods were then used to construct levees in an experimental flume system. The results indicated that the BEICP treatment resulted in significant strengthening of the surface of the soil specimens, which were measured as increases in unconfined compressive strength. The strengthened samples were able to resist erosion for a longer time period under overtopping scenarios of water challenges with high water velocity in a flume. Therefore, BEICP offers a sustainable and economical method for treatment of soil surfaces to improve erosion resistance. The results of this study will help mitigate flooding events that could cause major issues in transportation infrastructure and traffic safety.
状态：	Completed
资金：	162233
资助组织：	Iowa State Universtiy
管理组织：	Iowa State University, Ames
执行机构：	Iowa State University, Ames
主要研究人员：	Ong, Say Kee
开始时间：	20160901
预计完成日期：	20181130
实际结束时间：	0