Nanoparticles and polymer for soil stabilization studies

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The low strength and high compressibility of soft ground make it challenging for construction. Infrastructure on soils with inadequate load bearing capacity commonly require installation of deep foundation, for example deep piling which is not always economical or environmentally safe. Traditional mitigation measures have involved stabilizing native challenging soils with cement to improve its engineering performance. The use of cement poses threat to the environment due to high energy intensive manufacturing process and resulting high CO2 emissions are of concern, as is the slow progress towards exploiting renewable natural resources.The research will lead to innovative methodologies for environmentally sound soil stabilization on ground with soft soil deposits which generally exhibit poor engineering characteristics. Extensive and systematic experimental studies will be conducted to determine the applicability and feasibility of various stabilizing agents in soil mixing by assessing the mechanical properties of stabilized soils. Nanoparticles will be mixed with a number of soil stabilizers to effectively enhance the performance of native soils. The research will also reveal the impact of nanoparticles in the barriers of Canadian spent fuel storage systems leading the construction of advanced barriers with high performance. The advanced technology derived from the research will enhance soil strength permitting construction of safer bridges, high-rises and transportation systems in Canada. It will assist the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) in its development of safe storage facilities for Canada's spent hazardous fuels. Technological achievements from the research will be used in application development through active collaboration with industry. The program will train engineers and scientists with expertise in novel techniques of soil stabilization and barrier materials enhancement.