SURE3 Geotechnical Engineering Research Group

• Characterization of the clay-water-ion interaction in aqueous phase using advance liquid cell microscopy

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• Characterization of particle-biopolymer hydrogel interaction and bonding behavior using Microfluidic chip (MFC)

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• Investigation of new biopolymer material and treatment method (e.g. cross-link) for civil engineering practices

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• Environment and clay mineral effect on biopolymer rheology

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• Interface adhesion characterization of biopolymer-soils using atomic force microscope (AFM)

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• Constitutive modeling on the biopolymer-treated soils using empirical relationships and DEM (Discrete Element Method) 

• Laboratory tests to evaluate geotechnical properties of biopolymer-soils including:

  • Sedimentation ​

  • (Wave-based) Consolidation

  • Soil-water-characteristic (SWC)
    : Drying and Wetting

  • Unconfined compression (for UCS) and 3-to-4 point bending (for flexural strength)

  • Direct shear (DS)

  • Interface shear

  • Static Triaxial (CU, UU)

  • Cyclic Triaxial

  • Resonant Column and Torsional Shear (RC/TS)

  • Hydraulic conductivity 
    :Constant & Falling head, pressurized

  • Durability / Decomposition
    : Heating-cooling; Wetting-drying; freezing-thawing; Acid rain 

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• Empirical relationship derivation

• Up-scale laboratory programs to investigate the in-situ behaviors of biopolymer-soils including:

  • EFA (Erosion Function Apparatus)​

  • Hydraulic flume apparatus
    : 20-m-length; 0.5-m-width; 1-m-depth

  • Modified Jet-Hole erosion apparatus

  • Grout injection system for biopolymer-based grouts

  • Prototype equipment design and production for bio-soil spraying

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• Development of site implementation methods for biopolymer-soils​

  • D​ry-mix and spray-system (DMS)

  • Wet-mix and spray-system (WMS)

  • Thermostat ground injection

  • Surface stabilization and non-asphalt pavement

  • Building bricks for Adobe construction

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• Micro-to-Macro scale effect and efficiency