Effects of Biostabilization on Engineering Properties of Geomaterials

Biostabilization is a newly proposed method to improve the strength and durability of geomaterials, and it can serve as an alternative to chemical and mechanical stabilization. The objectives of this study are to perform biostabilization treatments for selected roadway construction geomaterials and to evaluate the biostabilization effects on engineering properties of the geomaterials. Three types of geomaterials were selected, and two of them were compacted soil from unpaved road surface. Bacillus pasteurii, the biostabilization bacterium, was used to induce mineral precipitates within the geomaterial pore spaces, where the biostabilization effects were performed. Two types of liquid incubation media, containing NH4Cl or (NH4)2 SO4, were applied for bacteria culturing. Unconfined compression, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were conducted to evaluate the biostabilization results. From unconfined compression, sample strength performance was improved by the biostabilization treatments; the benefits of biostabilization were pronounced by a relatively long culturing time and an oven-dry procedure; the liquid culturing medium containing NH4Cl performed better than the medium containing (NH4)2 SO4. After biostabilization, SEM photographs provided direct evidence for the precipitates induced by bacteria within the geomaterial pore space. The precipitates either connected the adjoined particles or partially covered the particle surface, which increased the surface roughness. EDS and XRD results indicated that calcite, dolomite, and albite were the major precipitates produced during biostabilization treatments. In conclusion, biostabilization ameliorated the microstructures of the geomaterials and improved their strength. Future research topics should include the applications of biostabilization for in situ road construction.

Study on Mechanical Properties and Failure Mechanism of Axial Braided C/C Composite

In order to study the mechanical properties and failure mechanism of the axial braided C/C composites, the microscopic and macroscopic mechanical properties of the composite were investigated. In view of the size effect of the samples, the properties of the samples with different thickness were tested. The strain during loading was measured by optical method, and the failure morphology was observed by SEM. The changing characteristics of stress-strain curve were analyzed, and the failure characteristics of materials and failure mechanism under various loads were obtained. It was found that brittle fracture was observed during the tensile process of axial braided C/C composites, and the main failure forms were fiber rod pulling and partial fiber rod breaking in the axial direction. Radial failure was mainly in the form of fiber bundle fracture and crack stratification propagation. When compressed, the material exhibited pseudoplastic characteristics. The radial compression sample was cut along a 45-degree bevel. The axial compression curve was in the form of double fold, the axial fiber rod was unstable, and the transverse fiber bundle was cut. During in-plane shearing, the axial fracture was brittle and the fiber rod was cut. The radial direction showed the fracture and pulling of the fiber bundle, and the material had the characteristics of pseudoplasticity. The research methods and results in this paper could provide important references for the optimization and rational application of C/C composite materials.

Experiment Study of Rock Damage and Permeability Meso-Mechanical Coupling Failure Model under Complex Condition

Pore water pressure and the changes of crustal deformation, fault rupture and seismic activity has important influence. So the pore water pressure and load rock stress – hydro-mechanical coupling mechanism is very important. This paper mainly studies the rock specimens of hydraulic crack damage simulation. This study found: with the increase of the axial compression, sample is on the surface crack. Crack characteristics is smooth and continuously expanding. With the load increasing at the same time, the number of samples is also increased damage elements. The sample was through the cracks. This is due to the effect of water pressure to reduce the size of confining pressure .From the failure mechanism analysis, the distribution of stress non-uniform material will not uniformity, reflected in the actual rock because of the grain and the defects of the random distribution. When the load, the composition of force transmission effect of different deformation and stress in rock, the internal non-uniform stress concentration, local, it will directly cause the weak part, and micro cracks generated change the failure mode of materials.