Enhancement on durability of cohesive soil by solidifying with modified guar gum.

Complex adverse weather conditions such as rain erosion and frost are frequently encountered in practical construction projects, particularly in the Inner Mongolian region of China. In this study, a new biopolymer (GG-PAM) with an interpenetrating crosslinked network structure was developed by chemically modifying GG to address the poor resistance of soil to rainwater erosion, frost, and other complex environmental conditions in open-air construction buildings. First, GG-PAM was synthesized by chemically modifying guar gum (GG) through graft copolymerization, and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis confirmed its favorable thermal stability. Subsequently, experiments were conducted to investigate the mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of GG-PAM-solidified soil. Then, using GG as a control, dry-wet cycle and freeze-thaw cycling tests were performed to compare the changes in unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of GG- and GG-PAM-solidified soil. Finally, water erosion, crack propagation, and permeability tests were conducted to evaluate the resistance of GG-PAM-solidified soil to external forces. The results indicated that the mechanical strength, durability, and erosion resistance of the GG-PAM-solidified soil were significantly superior to those of GG. When the GG-PAM content reaches 1 %, both the mechanical strength and erosion resistance of the solidified soil are significantly improved. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the construction and maintenance of roadbeds.

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