HU Q Z, CHEN Y L, LIU Y M, et al. Experimental study on the strengthening of soft clay using MICP with fiber-reinforced optimization in the electro-osmotic method[J]. Journal of Henan Polytechnic University(Natural Science) , 2025, 44(1): 166-175.

doi: 10.16186/j.cnki.1673-9787.2023100005

Received: 2023/10/04

Revised: 2023/12/14

Published: 2025/01/02

Experimental study on the strengthening of soft clay using MICP with fiber-reinforced optimization in the electro-osmotic method

HU Qizhi1,2,CHEN Yulong1, LIU Yiming1, TAO Gaoliang1,2

1. School of Civil Engineering， Architecture and the Environment， Hubei University of Technology， Wuhan  430068， Hubei， China; 2. Hubei Engineering Research Center of Bridge Safety Monitoring Technology and Equipment Technology， Wuhan  430068， Hubei， China

Abstract: Objectives To address issues such as soil cracking and uneven settlement associated with the traditional electro-osmosis method for soft clay reinforcement and to improve the engineering properties of soft clay， this study proposes a method that combines microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation （MICP） technology with basalt fiber reinforcement to optimize the electro-osmosis treatment effect. Methods Laboratory electro-osmotic model tests were conducted on soft clay. The study analyzed drainage volume， current intensity， and effective resistance during the electro-osmosis process， as well as surface settlement， moisture content， shear strength， and pH value of the soil after treatment. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM） images were also utilized to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of varying basalt fiber contents and the combined influence of MICP technology and basalt fiber on reinforcement performance. Results The findings indicate that： （1） The effect of basalt fiber content on the electro-osmosis process varies significantly. Adding fibers to soft clay mitigates soil cracking and current attenuation during electro-osmosis， with the optimal performance observed at a fiber content of 0.4%. （2） The integration of MICP technology and basalt fiber reinforcement enhances the uniformity and smoothness of the electro-osmosis process， effectively reducing uneven surface settlement caused by electro-osmotic consolidation and drainage. （3） During electro-osmosis， calcium carbonate precipitates formed by the MICP reaction on the surfaces of soil particles and fibers fill and strengthen the soil matrix， thereby improving the uniformity of soil strength. （4） The application of MICP technology not only increases soil strength but also reduces pore water discharge， alleviating the burden of wastewater treatment and demonstrating higher environmental adaptability. Conclusions This study proposes a novel approach to enhance the effectiveness of electro-osmosis for soft clay foundation reinforcement， offering new possibilities for stabilizing soft clay.

Key words: electro-osmosis; soft clay; microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation （MICP）; basalt fiber; soil settlement