A STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF LOCUST BEAN GUM ON THE SWELLING BEHAVIOR OF CLAY SOILS WITH DIFFERENT PLASTICITY

Abstract

Swelling clays cause severe engineering issues due to moisture-induced volume changes. This study experimentally investigates how locust bean gum (LBG), which is a sustainable biopolymer, affects the swelling behavior of kaolin-bentonite mixtures with varying plasticity levels. One-dimensional oedometer tests were conducted on medium- and high-plasticity clay mixtures to evaluate the impact of LBG concentration and mixing water temperature on swelling potential and swelling pressure. Results reveal that LBG effectively mitigates swelling, especially in highly plastic clays. At room temperature, a 2% LBG treatment reduced swelling potential and pressure by 79% and 68%, respectively. Notably, increasing the mixing water temperature to 60 °C further enhanced these reductions to 95% and 90%, respectively. In contrast, treating medium-plasticity clays with LBG completely neutralized the swelling tendency, resulting in immediate settlement under low vertical stress. This behavioral difference indicates that the settlement in medium-plasticity clays is driven by biopolymer-induced structural flocculation, whereas the swelling suppression in high-plasticity clays is governed by a hydrogel network that physically restricts clay hydration. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that soil plasticity and preparation temperature are critical factors for optimizing sustainable soil stabilization using biopolymers. 

Keywords

• Biopolymers
• Locust bean gum
• Clay plasticity
• Swelling potential
• Swelling pressure
• Sustainable soil improvement

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Unit (BAP) of Bursa Uludağ University under the Rapid Support Project No. 2171.

Project Number

2171

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was not required for this study, as it did not involve human participants or animal subjects.

Thanks

The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of undergraduate students Semanur Taslak, Kutay Kocakulak, and Memet Akif Çiçek during the laboratory experiments.

Farklı Plastisiteye Sahip Kil Zeminlerin Şişme Davranışına Keçiboynuzu Sakızının Etkisi Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Şişen kil zeminler, suyla temas ettiklerinde gösterdikleri yüksek hacimsel değişimler nedeniyle ciddi mühendislik sorunları yaratmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, sürdürülebilir ve doğal bir biyopolimer olan keçiboynuzu sakızının (LBG), farklı plastisiteye sahip kaolen-bentonit karışımlarının şişme davranışı üzerindeki etkileri deneysel olarak incelenmiştir. Orta ve yüksek plastisiteli kil karışımları üzerinde tek boyutlu ödometre deneyleri yapılarak, biyopolimer oranının ve karışım suyunun sıcaklığının şişme potansiyeli ile şişme basıncı üzerindeki etkileri değerlendirilmiştir. Sonuçlar, LBG'nin özellikle yüksek plastisiteli killerde şişmeyi başarılı bir şekilde baskıladığını göstermiştir. Oda sıcaklığında %2 LBG ilavesi, şişme potansiyelini %79, şişme basıncını ise %68 oranında düşürmüştür. Biyopolimer çözeltisinin 60 °C'de su ile hazırlanması durumunda ise bu iyileşme oranları sırasıyla %95 ve %90 seviyelerine çıkmıştır. Öte yandan, orta plastisiteli karışımlarda LBG ilavesi şişme eğilimini tamamen ortadan kaldırmış ve numunenin düşük düşey gerilme altında oturmasına neden olmuştur. Bu mekanik farklılık; orta plastisiteli killerdeki oturmanın biyopolimer kaynaklı flokülasyondan (yumaklaşma), yüksek plastisiteli killerdeki şişme direncinin ise kilin su almasını fiziksel olarak engelleyen hidrojel ağından kaynaklandığını göstermektedir. Elde edilen bulgular, biyopolimer tabanlı sürdürülebilir zemin iyileştirme uygulamalarında zemin plastisitesinin ve hazırlama koşullarının ne denli kritik bir rol oynadığını vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Biyopolimerler
• Keçiboynuzu sakızı
• Kil plastisitesi
• Şişme potansiyeli
• Şişme basıncı
• Sürdürülebilir zemin iyileştirme

Supporting Institution

Bu çalışma, Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Birimi (BAP) tarafından 2171 numaralı Hızlı Destek Projesi kapsamında desteklenmiştir.

Project Number

2171

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma insan katılımcılar veya hayvan denekler içermediğinden etik kurul onayına gerek yoktur.

Thanks

Yazar, laboratuvar deneylerinin yürütülmesi sırasında sağladıkları katkılardan dolayı lisans öğrencileri Semanur Taslak, Kutay Kocakulak ve Memet Akif Çiçek’e teşekkür eder.

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