Experiments on and predictions about properties of sand bonded by microbe cement

Abstract

Microbe cement as a new bonding material is presented. Sandstone (0.05 m diameter, 0.5 m height) and sandpile (0.125 m3) are joined by microbe cement to make a whole body. Evolutions in the related properties of treated sand samples are examined through compressive strength and calcite content. Results indicate that the structure of the cemented body is nonuniform, that the calcite content decreases with distance from the injection port, and that the compressive strength also decreases with distance from the injection port. In addition, evolutions in the measured calcite content and compressive strength are summarized by a numerical model that considers microbe concentration distribution. The numerical results of the calcite content at different positions for 0.5 m height sandstone are similar to the test results, and the experimental results for calcite content and compressive strength of 0.125 m3 cubic sandpile are similar to the numerical results. Prediction results indicate that the simulations should become a significant supplementary tool when microbe cement is applied in actual engineering projects.