Journal Published Online: 23 August 2018
Volume 42, Issue 3

Development of a Rigid Full-Contact Mold for Preparing Biobeams through Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation

CODEN: GTJODJ

Abstract

As a new environmentally friendly and sustainable technique for soil improvement, microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has been studied widely. A suitable sample preparation mold is the first step to prepare MICP treatment. The purpose of this study is to develop a rigid full-contact mold to prepare larger biobeam specimens for MICP treatments with an immersing method. Four different molds were developed, including a plastic beam rigid mold without a cover, a full-contact flexible mold, a rigid full-contact mold with geotextiles, and a rigid full-contact mold with filter paper. Beam-shaped specimens with different dimensions were treated with the four molds in the MICP process. A four-point bending test and a split tensile strength test were conducted to evaluate the flexural behavior of MICP-treated specimens from the four sample preparation molds. The results indicated that an MICP-treated sample prepared by the rigid full-contact mold with geotextiles can form the best beam shape and the most uniform calcite precipitation inside the sample. Additionally, the biobeam made by the rigid full-contact mold with geotextiles achieved the best mechanical properties. The flexural strength of the biobeam made by the rigid full-contact mold was 1,125 kPa at a failure flexural strain of 1.5 %, and the split tensile strength was 368 kPa with a failure tensile strain of 1.8 %.

Author Information

Bu, Changming
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chongqing University of Science & Technology, Shapingba Qu, Chongqing, China
Wen, Kejun
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Liu, Shihui
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Ogbonnaya, Ubani
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Dong, Qian
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Chongqing University of Science & Technology, Shapingba Qu, Chongqing, China
Li, Lin
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Amini, Farshad
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, USA
Pages: 14
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: GTJ20170148
ISSN: 0149-6115
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ20170148