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Soil Improvement by Biocementation
Soil Improvement by Biocementation
Some years ago, it was proposed a new method to solve pathologies related to the
aging of hydraulic structures (dikes and levees), especially seismic hazard and
internal erosion. This is a problem of concern in France, mainly because several of
these structures in the country are 50 or more years old and some aging
pathologies are appearing.
This new method consists in reinforcement of soils using biological means. Based on
the generation of bacteria, which help to create calcite reinforcements between
particles and consequently improving mechanical and physical soil properties.
Different efforts were made to encourage research in this field, one was the Second
International Workshop en Bio-Soils Engineering and interaction which was held at
the University of Cambridge in September 2011 and more recently, the creation of
the BOREAL project (2014-2017) an assembly of several companies, research
laboratories and others, which will focus on the application of bio-calcification on
hydraulic structures with a existing hydraulic gradient that are in risk of failure by
erosion, mostly internal erosion.
Some definitions
Implementation protocol
Biocalcis has an established protocol of application:
1.
2.
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4.
5.
Advantages
Limitations
Only applicable in the following type of soils: GW, GP, SW, SP, ML and organic
soils.
The bacteria needed for this process is not capable to enter pore throats
smaller than 0.4m. According to some information, the bacteria used by SB
are small enough in order to do not have any problems in this aspect.
The bigger the particle size, the more is the microbial abundance in the soil.
Only applicable to shallow depth soils, because of the bacteria incapability to
rearrange clay particles under high confinement stress.
Difficult uniformity while application in site.
Injection grid very weak-kneed
Liquefaction prevention