Durability of sandy soil stabilized with guar gum under wet-dry cycles

Ahmed H. Hussein

doi:10.65115/9fyp3s97

Articles

Durability of sandy soil stabilized with guar gum under wet-dry cycles

Ahmed H. Hussein¹

Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Samarra, Samarra, Iraq

Published2025-09-30

Pages51-59

SectionArticles

LanguageEnglish

Downloads299

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.65115/9fyp3s97

Abstract

This study investigates the use of guar gum, a biopolymer, as an environmentally friendly soil stabilizer to improve the durability of sandy soil. Three types of sandy soils (SP, SW, and SP-SM) were treated with different amounts of guar gum (1%, 2%, and 3%) and were tested through several wetting and drying cycles (2, 4, and 5 cycles). Experimental results revealed a significant reduction in the collapse potential (Cp) from 50% to 71% and an increase in the liquid limit. The collapse rate decreased from 45% to 67% after the second and fifth cycles, respectively at the highest addition rate of 3%. The resistance to environmental changes was also improved. These results highlight the potential of guar gum as a sustainable sand stabilization solution for geotechnical practices and this work offers fresh perspectives on the application of guar gum to stabilise sand in situations involving periodic soaking and drying.

Keywords Sandy Soil Guar Gum Biopolymer Stabilization Collapse Potential Wetting-Drying Cycles

Funding & supportNOT found

SubjectsSubmission Metadata

DisciplinesGeotechnical Engineering

References

[1] N. Thombare, U. Jh, S. Mishra, and M. Z. Siddiqui, “Guar gum as a promising starting material for diverse applications: A review,” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, vol. 88, pp. 361–372, Jul. 2016.
[2] E. R. Sujatha and S. Saisree, “Geotechnical behaviour of guar gum-treated soil,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 59, no. 6, pp. 2155–2166, Dec. 2019.
[3] Y. Liu, C. Du, F. Yi, J. Li, and M. Li, “Enhancement on durability of cohesive soil by solidifying with modified guar gum,” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, vol. 309, no. 4, 143003, May 2025.
[4] X. Li, J. He, F. Min, and J. Ji, “Durability and microstructure of guar gum/chitosan-cement modified slurry for flowable fill,” Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, published online Jun. 23, 2025.
[5] S. A. Kumar, E. R. Sujatha, A. Pugazhendi, and M. T. Jamal, “Guar gum-stabilized soil: a clean, sustainable and economic alternative liner material for landfills,” Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, vol. 25, pp. 323–341, 2023.
[6] S. Azam, S. N. Abduljauwad, N. Al-Shayea, and O. S. B. Al-Amoudi, “Expansive characteristics of gypsiferous/anhydritic soil formations,” Engineering Geology, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 89–100, 1998.
[7] I. Chang, M. Lee, A. T. P. Tran, S. Lee, Y.-M. Kwon, J. Im, and G.-C. Cho, “Review on biopolymer-based soil treatment (BPST) technology in geotechnical engineering practices,” Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, vol. 24, 100385, 2020.
[8] Z. Wu, J. Xu, H. Fan, L. Li, Y. Ji, and S. Wang, “Experimental study on dry-wet durability and water stability properties of fiber-reinforced and geopolymer-stabilized loess,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 418, 135379, Mar. 2024.
[9] F. M. Muhauwiss, A. H. Hussein, and M. A. Hussein, “Shear strength durability investigation for gypseous soil enhanced by pectin biopolymer,” Tikrit Journal of Engineering Sciences, vol. 31, no. 2, 2024.
[10] A. H. Hussein, F. M. Muhauwiss, N. Abed, and A. F. Theyab, “Evaluating the shear strength of guar gum-treated gypseous soil,” in Smart Geotechnics for Smart Societies, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1201/9781003299127-60.
[11] I. Chang, J. Im, and G.-C. Cho, “Introduction of microbial biopolymers in soil treatment for future environmentally-friendly and sustainable geotechnical engineering,” Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 251–264, 2016.
[12] ASTM International, Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System), ASTM D2487-17e1, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2017. doi: 10.1520/D2487-17E01.
[13] ASTM International, Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils, ASTM D4318-17e1, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2017. doi: 10.1520/D4318-17E01.
[14] ASTM International, Standard Test Method for Measurement of Collapse Potential of Soils, ASTM D5333-03, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2003. doi: 10.1520/D5333-03.

Author Biography

Ahmed H. Hussein, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Samarra, Samarra, Iraq

Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Samarra, Samarra, Iraq

Competing interests

Ahmed H. Hussein

--

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

How to cite

, A.H.H. (2025). Durability of sandy soil stabilized with guar gum under wet-dry cycles. Samarra Journal of Engineering Science and Research, 3(3), 51-59. https://doi.org/10.65115/9fyp3s97

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Usage statistics

[1] [1] N. Thombare, U. Jh, S. Mishra, and M. Z. Siddiqui, “Guar gum as a promising starting material for diverse applications: A review,” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, vol. 88, pp. 361–372, Jul. 2016.

[2] [2] E. R. Sujatha and S. Saisree, “Geotechnical behaviour of guar gum-treated soil,” Soils and Foundations, vol. 59, no. 6, pp. 2155–2166, Dec. 2019.

[3] [3] Y. Liu, C. Du, F. Yi, J. Li, and M. Li, “Enhancement on durability of cohesive soil by solidifying with modified guar gum,” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, vol. 309, no. 4, 143003, May 2025.

[4] [4] X. Li, J. He, F. Min, and J. Ji, “Durability and microstructure of guar gum/chitosan-cement modified slurry for flowable fill,” Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, published online Jun. 23, 2025.

[5] [5] S. A. Kumar, E. R. Sujatha, A. Pugazhendi, and M. T. Jamal, “Guar gum-stabilized soil: a clean, sustainable and economic alternative liner material for landfills,” Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, vol. 25, pp. 323–341, 2023.

[6] [6] S. Azam, S. N. Abduljauwad, N. Al-Shayea, and O. S. B. Al-Amoudi, “Expansive characteristics of gypsiferous/anhydritic soil formations,” Engineering Geology, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 89–100, 1998.

[7] [7] I. Chang, M. Lee, A. T. P. Tran, S. Lee, Y.-M. Kwon, J. Im, and G.-C. Cho, “Review on biopolymer-based soil treatment (BPST) technology in geotechnical engineering practices,” Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, vol. 24, 100385, 2020.

[8] [8] Z. Wu, J. Xu, H. Fan, L. Li, Y. Ji, and S. Wang, “Experimental study on dry-wet durability and water stability properties of fiber-reinforced and geopolymer-stabilized loess,” Construction and Building Materials, vol. 418, 135379, Mar. 2024.

[9] [9] F. M. Muhauwiss, A. H. Hussein, and M. A. Hussein, “Shear strength durability investigation for gypseous soil enhanced by pectin biopolymer,” Tikrit Journal of Engineering Sciences, vol. 31, no. 2, 2024.

[10] [10] A. H. Hussein, F. M. Muhauwiss, N. Abed, and A. F. Theyab, “Evaluating the shear strength of guar gum-treated gypseous soil,” in Smart Geotechnics for Smart Societies, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1201/9781003299127-60.

[11] [11] I. Chang, J. Im, and G.-C. Cho, “Introduction of microbial biopolymers in soil treatment for future environmentally-friendly and sustainable geotechnical engineering,” Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 251–264, 2016.

[12] [12] ASTM International, Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System), ASTM D2487-17e1, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2017. doi: 10.1520/D2487-17E01.

[13] [13] ASTM International, Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils, ASTM D4318-17e1, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2017. doi: 10.1520/D4318-17E01.

[14] [14] ASTM International, Standard Test Method for Measurement of Collapse Potential of Soils, ASTM D5333-03, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2003. doi: 10.1520/D5333-03.