Abstract
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 11017 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | E3S Web of Conferences |
| Volume | 92 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Jun 2019 |
| Event | 7th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials - Glasgow, United Kingdom Duration: 26 Jun 2019 → 28 Jun 2019 https://www.is-glasgow2019.org.uk/ |
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Keywords
- ground improvement
- fungal hyphae
- soil aggregation
- soil hydrophobicity
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Preliminary observations of the shear behaviour of fungal treated soil. / Salifu, Emmanuel; El Mountassir, Gráinne.
In: E3S Web of Conferences, Vol. 92, 11017, 25.06.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference Contribution
TY - JOUR
T1 - Preliminary observations of the shear behaviour of fungal treated soil
AU - Salifu, Emmanuel
AU - El Mountassir, Gráinne
PY - 2019/6/25
Y1 - 2019/6/25
N2 - This paper presents results of an investigation into an entirely novel technique for ground improvement involving the use of fungal hyphae. Fungal hyphae (long filamentous branches) are known to contribute to soil aggregation and soil hydrophobicity, and are hypothesised to also influence the hydro-mechanical behaviour of soil. We present here preliminary observations of the mechanical behaviour of sands treated with the fungal species Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus). Direct shear tests were carried out on sand containing different percentages of organic substrate (the nutrient source for fungal growth) and treated with P. ostreatus. The stress-strain behaviour of fungal treated and untreated soil was investigated. Results show that irrespective of the percentage of organic matter, fungal treated specimens tended to show a loss in the peak behaviour characteristic of the untreated control specimens and an associated transition towards a more contractive volumetric response. The limited experiments conducted to date appear to indicate that the main factor responsible for the differences in behaviour between treated and untreated specimens is due to lubrication of the grains by the fungal hyphae and exudates. Further investigation is required to fully elucidate the mechanisms influencing the mechanical behaviour of fungal-treated soils.
AB - This paper presents results of an investigation into an entirely novel technique for ground improvement involving the use of fungal hyphae. Fungal hyphae (long filamentous branches) are known to contribute to soil aggregation and soil hydrophobicity, and are hypothesised to also influence the hydro-mechanical behaviour of soil. We present here preliminary observations of the mechanical behaviour of sands treated with the fungal species Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus). Direct shear tests were carried out on sand containing different percentages of organic substrate (the nutrient source for fungal growth) and treated with P. ostreatus. The stress-strain behaviour of fungal treated and untreated soil was investigated. Results show that irrespective of the percentage of organic matter, fungal treated specimens tended to show a loss in the peak behaviour characteristic of the untreated control specimens and an associated transition towards a more contractive volumetric response. The limited experiments conducted to date appear to indicate that the main factor responsible for the differences in behaviour between treated and untreated specimens is due to lubrication of the grains by the fungal hyphae and exudates. Further investigation is required to fully elucidate the mechanisms influencing the mechanical behaviour of fungal-treated soils.
KW - ground improvement
KW - fungal hyphae
KW - soil aggregation
KW - soil hydrophobicity
U2 - 10.1051/e3sconf/20199211017
DO - 10.1051/e3sconf/20199211017
M3 - Conference Contribution
VL - 92
JO - E3S Web of Conferences
T2 - E3S Web of Conferences
JF - E3S Web of Conferences
SN - 2267-1242
M1 - 11017
ER -