Mechanical strength investigation of chemically reinforced sandy soil using organic copolymers for geotechnical engineering applications

Mohan Raj Krishnan, Edreese Housni Alsharaeh

Article ID: 5170
Vol 7, Issue 1, 2024

VIEWS - 176 (Abstract) 90 (PDF)

Abstract


The chemical reinforcement of sandy soils is usually carried out to improve their properties and meet specific engineering requirements. Nevertheless, conventional reinforcement agents are often expensive; the process is energy-intensive and causes serious environmental issues. Therefore, developing a cost-effective, room-temperature-based method that uses recyclable chemicals is necessary. In the current study, poly (styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) (PS-PMMA) is used as a stabilizer to reinforce sandy soil. The copolymer-reinforced sand samples were prepared using the one-step bulk polymerization method at room temperature. The mechanical strength of the copolymer-reinforced sand samples depends on the ratio of the PS-PMMA copolymer to the sand. The higher the copolymer-to-sand ratio, the higher the sample’s compressive strength. The sand (70 wt.%)-PS-PMMA (30 wt.%) sample exhibited the highest compressive strength of 1900 psi. The copolymer matrix enwraps the sand particles to form a stable structure with high compressive strengths.


Keywords


sand; copolymer; polystyrene; polymethyl methacrylate; soil reinforcement; geotechnical

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jpse.v7i1.5170

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