Abstract Soil stabilization through biological methods is a sustainable, efficient and long-term alternative to conventional techniques. An elaborate study on the engineering behaviour of guar gum-treated soil, a gum-based biopolymer, is carried out through a concise experimental programme. The dry density of the treated soil shows a marginal increase and its optimum moisture content decreases with the increase in guar gum content. The marginal change in dry density over a range of water contents indicates that guar gum-treated soil can be compacted at low energies and that its sensitivity to changes in water content is not appreciable. The stress-strain behaviour of the treated soil indicates that guar gum stiffens the soil matrix, enabling it to resist loads at lower strains. The gain in strength of the soil-guar matrix is seen to depend on both the biopolymer content and the curing time. There is a substantial increase in the unconfined compressive strength of the treated soil – nearly 45% immediately and 131% after 90 days of curing at a 2% guar gum content. The compressibility of the soil is effectively reduced as the addition of guar gum results in the formation of hydrogels that not only clog the pore spaces, but also stiffen the soil matrix. Guar gum is susceptible to degradation; and hence, durability tests are conducted. The results show that there is no appreciable degradation of the treated soil samples within the investigated period of 90 days.

中文翻译：

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瓜尔胶处理土的岩土力学行为

摘要 通过生物方法稳定土壤是传统技术的可持续、有效和长期的替代方法。通过简明的实验程序对瓜尔胶处理的土壤（一种胶基生物聚合物）的工程行为进行了详细研究。处理后土壤的干密度略有增加，其最佳含水量随着瓜尔胶含量的增加而降低。在一定含水量范围内干密度的边际变化表明瓜尔胶处理的土壤可以在低能量下压实，并且其对含水量变化的敏感性不明显。处理过的土壤的应力-应变行为表明瓜尔豆胶使土壤基质变硬，使其能够在较低应变下抵抗载荷。土壤瓜尔胶基质强度的增加被认为取决于生物聚合物的含量和固化时间。处理过的土壤的无侧限抗压强度显着增加——在 2% 瓜尔胶含量下，立即增加近 45%，固化 90 天后增加 131%。由于瓜尔胶的添加导致形成水凝胶，不仅堵塞孔隙空间，而且使土壤基质变硬，从而有效降低了土壤的可压缩性。瓜尔豆胶容易降解；因此，进行了耐久性测试。结果表明，在 90 天的调查期内，处理过的土壤样品没有明显的降解。处理过的土壤的无侧限抗压强度显着增加——在 2% 瓜尔胶含量下，立即增加近 45%，固化 90 天后增加 131%。由于瓜尔胶的添加导致形成水凝胶，不仅堵塞孔隙空间，而且使土壤基质变硬，从而有效降低了土壤的可压缩性。瓜尔豆胶容易降解；因此，进行了耐久性测试。结果表明，在 90 天的调查期内，处理过的土壤样品没有明显的降解。处理过的土壤的无侧限抗压强度显着增加——在 2% 瓜尔胶含量下，立即增加近 45%，固化 90 天后增加 131%。由于瓜尔胶的添加导致形成水凝胶，不仅堵塞孔隙空间，而且使土壤基质变硬，从而有效降低了土壤的可压缩性。瓜尔豆胶容易降解；因此，进行了耐久性测试。结果表明，在 90 天的调查期内，处理过的土壤样品没有明显的降解。因此，进行了耐久性测试。结果表明，在 90 天的调查期内，处理过的土壤样品没有明显的降解。因此，进行了耐久性测试。结果表明，在 90 天的调查期内，处理过的土壤样品没有明显的降解。