Soil liquefaction mitigation using crosslinked xanthan gum treatment on coarse sand using a dynamic centrifuge test
Soil liquefaction mitigation using crosslinked xanthan gum treatment on coarse sand using a dynamic centrifuge test
Soil liquefaction during earthquakes remains one of the most pervasive threats to geotechnical infrastructure, demanding mitigation strategies that balance effectiveness, constructability and environmental responsibility. Among bio-geotechnical approaches, biopolymer treatment is distinguished by its ability to reduce cyclic degradation and permanent strain through viscoelastic energy dissipation. It presents a viable solution that integrates mechanical resilience and energy dissipation. This study investigates the fundamental mechanisms of crosslinked viscoelastic biopolymers as a sustainable agent for mitigating earthquake-induced liquefaction. Sand specimens were treated with crosslinked xanthan gum (CrXG) to enhance interparticle bonding and introduce viscoelastic energy dissipating behavior. A dynamic centrifuge test was conducted on treated and untreated samples under a single tapered sinusoidal motion. This study investigated dynamic nonlinear responses of the Xanthan gum treated soil based on shear beam assuption. Cyclic shear stress-strain loops using vertical acccelerometer arrays were derived and damping ratios were calculated to quantify dissipated energy under the cyclic loading. The biopolymer-treated sands maintained structural integrity during shaking, whereas untreated specimens experienced significant deformation.
D. Y. Park; D. H. Choi; Kil-Wan Ko; Tae-Hyuk Kwon; Gye-Chun Cho
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Session 4: Sustainability in geotechnical systems
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-37