Effects of Structure Frequency placed in Bio-cemented Sands using Centrifuge Modeling

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Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is a promising biocementation technique for improving soil liquefaction resistance. This paper first presents the results and contributions from a series of past centrifuge research programs conducted at the Center for Geotechnical Modeling at the University of California, Davis, to evaluate the dynamic response and soil-structure interaction. The lessons learned from each study are highlighted to collectively explain the design of the most recent test program. A 9m centrifuge test was recently conducted where the model was comprised of a loose liquefiable layer within which discrete MICP blocks were treated to different extents to mitigate liquefaction effects. Three structures with varying natural frequencies were founded on these MICP treated blocks to investigate soil-structure interaction. The three structures tested were a simple foundation for assessing shearing deformation and two structures matching the natural frequencies of the MICP cemented soil zone and the input motion. The model was exposed to shaking events with peak base accelerations of 0.07g. The soil-structure interaction was examined, revealing that the structure with matching natural frequencies to the input motion experienced greater acceleration, settlement, and rocking compared to the others.

2025 International Conference on Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (ICBBG2025)

General session: Bio-mediated methods for hazard mitigation