Investigation of the Effects of Two Different Biopolymers on the Strength Parameters of Silty Soil

Halil Oğuzhan Kara; Mehmet Uğur Yilmazoğlu

Article Details

Investigation of the Effects of Two Different Biopolymers on the Strength Parameters of Silty Soil

Authors:

Halil Oğuzhan Kara | Mehmet Uğur Yilmazoğlu

Publisher:

Gazi University

Main Topics:

İnşaat Geoteknik Mühendisliği | İnşaat Mühendisliğinde Zemin Mekaniği

Journal:

Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım ve Teknoloji Vol.13 Issue 3, pp.1083-1099

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353674

pISSN:

2147-9526

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Soil improvement methods are commonly employed to enhance the load-bearing capacity of weak soils. Due to environmental concerns, traditional additives like lime and cement are increasingly being replaced by more sustainable alternatives. Recently, biopolymers have gained attention as environmentally friendly options for soil stabilization. However, combining biopolymers with additional agents to enhance bond strength is rare. This study investigates the effects of using Guar Gum and Xanthan Gum biopolymers in combination with Calcium Chloride CaCl₂ on the strength parameters of silty soil. Biopolymers are known to form gel-like structures between soil particles, increasing strength. At the same time, Calcium Chloride interacts with the carboxyl groups of biopolymers, creating cross-linkages that further improve soil strength. In this research, biopolymers and Calcium Chloride were combined with silty soil and subjected to 7,28,56 and 90 days of curing. Unconfined compressive strength UCS and direct shear tests were conducted, and the results were compared with reference samples. Changes in internal friction angle and cohesion were also analyzed based on different biopolymer ratios. The results demonstrated significant improvements in the strength of long-term cured samples, with Calcium Chloride enhancing the cross-linking effect of biopolymers. These findings suggest that biopolymers, in combination with Calcium Chloride, can be effective in environmentally friendly soil stabilization projects.

 Soil improvement methods are commonly employed to enhance the load-bearing capacity of weak soils. Due to environmental concerns, traditional additives like lime and cement are increasingly being replaced by more sustainable alternatives. Recently, biopolymers have gained attention as environmentally friendly options for soil stabilization. However, combining biopolymers with additional agents to enhance bond strength is rare. This study investigates the effects of using Guar Gum and Xanthan Gum biopolymers in combination with Calcium Chloride CaCl₂ on the strength parameters of silty soil. Biopolymers are known to form gel-like structures between soil particles, increasing strength. At the same time, Calcium Chloride interacts with the carboxyl groups of biopolymers, creating cross-linkages that further improve soil strength. In this research, biopolymers and Calcium Chloride were combined with silty soil and subjected to 7,28,56 and 90 days of curing. Unconfined compressive strength UCS and direct shear tests were conducted, and the results were compared with reference samples. Changes in internal friction angle and cohesion were also analyzed based on different biopolymer ratios. The results demonstrated significant improvements in the strength of long-term cured samples, with Calcium Chloride enhancing the cross-linking effect of biopolymers. These findings suggest that biopolymers, in combination with Calcium Chloride, can be effective in environmentally friendly soil stabilization projects.

 Soil improvement methods are commonly employed to enhance the load-bearing capacity of weak soils. Due to environmental concerns, traditional additives like lime and cement are increasingly being replaced by more sustainable alternatives. Recently, biopolymers have gained attention as environmentally friendly options for soil stabilization. However, combining biopolymers with additional agents to enhance bond strength is rare. This study investigates the effects of using Guar Gum and Xanthan Gum biopolymers in combination with Calcium Chloride CaCl₂ on the strength parameters of silty soil. Biopolymers are known to form gel-like structures between soil particles, increasing strength. At the same time, Calcium Chloride interacts with the carboxyl groups of biopolymers, creating cross-linkages that further improve soil strength. In this research, biopolymers and Calcium Chloride were combined with silty soil and subjected to 7,28,56 and 90 days of curing. Unconfined compressive strength UCS and direct shear tests were conducted, and the results were compared with reference samples. Changes in internal friction angle and cohesion were also analyzed based on different biopolymer ratios. The results demonstrated significant improvements in the strength of long-term cured samples, with Calcium Chloride enhancing the cross-linking effect of biopolymers. These findings suggest that biopolymers, in combination with Calcium Chloride, can be effective in environmentally friendly soil stabilization projects.

 Zemin iyileştirme yöntemleri zayıf zeminlerin taşıma gücünü artırmak için yaygın olarak kullanılır. Çevresel kaygılar nedeniyle kireç ve çimento gibi geleneksel katkı maddeleri, yerini giderek daha sürdürülebilir alternatiflere bırakmaktadır. Son zamanlarda, biyopolimerler zemin iyileştirme amacıyla, çevre dostu seçenekler olarak dikkat çekmektedir. Ancak, zemin ve biyopolimer arasında oluşan bağların mukavemetini artırmak için biyopolimerleri ek maddelerle birleştirmek nadirdir. Bu çalışma, Guar Gum ve Xanthan Gum biyopolimerlerinin kalsiyum klorür CaCl₂ ile birlikte kullanılmasının siltli zeminin mukavemet parametreleri üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmaktadır. Biyopolimerlerin zemin matrisi arasında jel benzeri yapılar oluşturarak mukavemeti artırdığı bilinmektedir. Aynı zamanda kalsiyum klorür, biyopolimerlerin karboksil gruplarıyla etkileşime girerek zemin mukavemetini daha da artıran çapraz bağlar oluşturur. Bu çalışmada, biyopolimerler ve kalsiyum klorür siltli zeminle birleştirilerek ve 7,28,56 ve 90 günlük kürlemeye tabi tutulmuştur. Kürlenen numunelerin serbest basınç ve kayma mukavemetleri, referans numune ile karşılaştırılmıştır. İçsel sürtünme açısı ve kohezyondaki değişiklikler de farklı biyopolimer oranlarına göre analiz edilmiştir. Sonuçlar, kalsiyum klorürün biyopolimerlerin çapraz bağlama etkisini artırmasıyla uzun süreli kürlenmiş numunelerin mukavemetinde önemli iyileştirmeler olduğunu göstermiştir. Bu bulgular, biyopolimerlerin kalsiyum klorürle birlikte çevre dostu zemin stabilizasyon projelerinde etkili olabileceğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Article Details

Investigation of the Effects of Two Different Biopolymers on the Strength Parameters of Silty Soil

Authors:

Halil Oğuzhan Kara | Mehmet Uğur Yilmazoğlu

Publisher:

Gazi University

Main Topics:

İnşaat Geoteknik Mühendisliği | İnşaat Mühendisliğinde Zemin Mekaniği

Journal:

Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım ve Teknoloji Vol.13 Issue 3, pp.1083-1099

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353674

pISSN:

2147-9526

Biopolymer

Soil stabilization

Xanthan gum

Guar gum

Cross-linkingBiyopolimer

Zemin iyileştirme

Xanthan gum

Guar gum

Çapraz bağlanma

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Halil Oğuzhan Kara | Mehmet Uğur Yilmazoğlu

Publisher: Gazi University

Main Topics: İnşaat Geoteknik Mühendisliği | İnşaat Mühendisliğinde Zemin Mekaniği

Journal: Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım ve Teknoloji Vol.13 Issue 3, pp.1083-1099

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001353674

pISSN: 2147-9526

Issues

Authors:

Halil Oğuzhan Kara | Mehmet Uğur Yilmazoğlu

Publisher:

Gazi University

Main Topics:

İnşaat Geoteknik Mühendisliği | İnşaat Mühendisliğinde Zemin Mekaniği

Journal:

Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım ve Teknoloji Vol.13 Issue 3, pp.1083-1099

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353674

pISSN:

2147-9526