top of page
E3GEO moto.jpg

Fundamentals of Biopolymer-based Soil Treatment (BPST) and Biopolymer-treated Soil (BPTS)

BPST scheme.jpg
BPST MICP comparison.jpg

Why BPST? 

BPST from Micro to Macro

Micro

  • Characterization of the clay-water-ion interaction in aqueous phase using advance liquid cell microscopy
​
  • Characterization of particle-biopolymer hydrogel interaction and bonding behavior using Microfluidic chip (MFC)
​
  • Investigation of new biopolymer material and treatment method (e.g. cross-link) for civil engineering practices
​
  • Environment and clay mineral effect on biopolymer rheology
​
  • Interface adhesion characterization of biopolymer-soils using atomic force microscope (AFM)
​
  • Constitutive modeling on the biopolymer-treated soils using empirical relationships and DEM (Discrete Element Method) 

Meso

  • 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 
​
  • Empirical relationship derivation

Macro

  • 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
​
  • 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
​
  • Micro-to-Macro scale effect and efficiency 

BPST - Geomechanical behavior characterization

BPST sand to clay.jpg

BPST - Practical implementation technology development

Field implementation.jpg

Sustainable Geotechnical Engineering

BPST for Sustainable Ground Improvement and Soil Preservation (e.g. Anti-desertification)

Biosoil stabilization scheme.jpg

BPST for Geohazards mitigation and recovery (e.g. Post-wildfires)

BPST wildfire.jpg
bottom of page